Gestational Diabetes: Diagnosis and Treatment | Ohio State Medical Center

Because Gestational Diabetes typically doesn’t have symptoms, pregnant women are screened using a simple glucose tolerance test. Those at high risk will be screened earlier in pregnancy. Women are at greater risk for Gestational Diabetes if they have parents who had Type 2 Diabetes, are overweight, have had a large baby in the past, have sugar in their urine, have polycystic ovarian syndrome, or have had Gestational Diabetes before. In lower risk women, testing won’t occur until 24-28 weeks of a pregnancy. Complications of Gestational Diabetes include the baby becoming very large, causing a traumatic birth, and a higher lifetime risk for the baby of being overweight or developing diabetes themselves. Treatment of Gestational Diabetes typically involves a balanced diet and exercise, with medication only when required.