What are the factors that

increase the risk of developing Resources What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is defined as high
gestational diabetes?

Gestational
blood sugar in a pregnant woman who
Being 35 years of age or older has never had diabetes before. It generally
occurs around the end of the sixth month of
Having an immediate family member The Diabetes Québec pamphlet pregnancy. In most cases, it disappears after
with type 2 diabetes
Having a body mass index (BMI) of
Understanding and preventing
type 2 diabetes
diabetes the birth.
During pregnancy, the placenta produces
30 or more, or gaining more than the hormones that create and maintain the
Diabetes Québec website
recommended amount of weight during correct conditions for a successful pregnancy
on the prevention of type 2 diabetes
the first two trimesters but prevents insulin from working. Insulin is a
preventiondiabete.ca
Being of Indigenous, Latin-American, Asian, hormone that lowers blood sugar.
Arab or African descent Ordre professionnel
In some pregnant women, the body fails
Having a multiple pregnancy (more than des diététistes du Québec to secrete enough insulin to offset the
one fetus) opdq.org effect of the placental hormones. Sugar
Having previously given birth to a baby then accumulates in the blood and raises
weighing more than 4.1 kg (9 lb.) blood sugar.
Having had gestational diabetes before,
or having been diagnosed with glucose
intolerance or prediabetes
Having polycystic ovary syndrome
or acanthosis nigricans (discoloration
of the skin)
Regularly taking a cortisone medication
Questions about diabetes?
InfoDiabetes Service
514-259-3422
1-800-361-3504
infodiabete@diabete.qc.ca

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universi-d.com © Diabetes Québec – April 2020

Gestational diabetes does not

Even in the absence of risk factors, increase the risk of birth defects
some pregnant women still develop or the risk that your baby will have
gestational diabetes. diabetes at birth.
diabete.qc.ca
The symptoms Having blood sugar frequently What are the target blood sugar The delivery
may go unnoticed! above target levels increases values during pregnancy? During labour, your blood sugar must
the following risks: be kept within target levels as much as
Fasting and possible. The nursing staff will therefore
For the mother Below 5.3 mmol/L take regular readings.
before meals
Gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia,
a pregnancy complication characterized by 1 hour after the start Medical teams are properly
Unusual fatigue for Increased volume Below 7.8 mmol/L
a pregnant woman of urine or frequency high blood pressure and swelling of a meal
equipped to ensure a safe
of urination
A premature delivery 2 hours after the start delivery for women with
Below 6.7 mmol/L
A caesarian section or a more difficult vaginal of a meal gestational diabetes.
delivery, due to the baby’s weight
* From the Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines
Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes after the birth for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada.
or in the years after the pregnancy After childbirth
Intense thirst Headaches
Your health care team will advise you when
For the baby and how frequently to monitor your blood sugar. Women who have had gestational diabetes are
A weight heavier than average at birth 13 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
How is gestational in the years that follow a pregnancy than
diabetes detected?
(more than 4.1 kg or 9 lb.) Healthy lifestyle habits help women who didn’t have gestational diabetes.
Shoulders becoming blocked during manage gestational diabetes!
All pregnant woman should have one the delivery Consequently, it is recommended that you:
of the following tests between the 24th Hypoglycemia at birth, also known as During pregnancy, it is recommended to eat a
healthy and balanced diet and to exercise regularly, have a blood test between 6 weeks and
and 28th week of pregnancy: low blood sugar
unless your doctor advises otherwise. 6 months after giving birth to screen for
A
 blood sugar reading one hour after Jaundice, a lack of calcium in the blood prediabetes or type 2 diabetes;
1 drinking a sugary liquid Treatment with drugs or insulin may also be
or respiratory problems at birth maintain healthy lifestyle habits to reduce
A
 fasting blood sugar reading, then necessary. It is not dangerous to use insulin during
2 pregnancy. On the contrary, the risks for the mother the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or
a reading one hour and two hours delay its onset.
after drinking a sugary liquid and the baby are lower if it helps the mother keep
her blood sugar at target levels. breastfeed if at all possible immediately
Depending on your risk level, this test might after the birth and for the first four months.
be done sooner. You might also be asked to do
 
both tests, depending on the results.

If you are diagnosed

with gestational diabetes,
you will be cared for by
a health care team. A follow-up with a nutritionist
is an important component in the 
Additional appointments treatment of gestational diabetes!
and ultrasounds may be
necessary to ensure your and
your baby’s health.