Understanding Gestational Diabetes: Causes and Risk Factors

Gestational diabetes can be a scary diagnosis for expecting mothers. Learn about the causes and risk factors of this condition in this informative guide.

Any pregnant woman can get gestational diabetes. But, some women are more at risk than others. You are at greater risk if you:

• Have diabetes in your family
• Had gestational diabetes in another pregnancy
• Had a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
• Excessive weight gain during the pregnancy
• Are of Hispanic/Latin, Native American, Asian American or African American background
• Had an unexplained stillbirth (a baby who died before birth)
• Had a baby born with birth defects of unknown cause
• Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Presence of glucosuria - sugar in urine
• Are overweight (BMI greater than or equal to 25)

Women with one or more of these risks are more likely to have gestational diabetes. Pregnant women with risks may be tested for gestational diabetes at their first prenatal.

Source: Sweet Success, California Diabetes and Pregnancy Program? CDAPP, 2014