Understanding Blood Sugar During Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. You are at risk of developing, or perhaps have already developed, gestational diabetes. Controlling your blood sugar can help prevent problems for you and your baby.

As food is digested, it turns into sugar (glucose), a fuel that feeds your body. This sugar goes into your bloodstream. Your body then releases a substance called insulin to help your body use blood sugar correctly.

The placenta is where nutrients in your blood are exchanged with your baby's blood. Your blood sugar goes to your baby from the placenta through the umbilical cord. Your baby uses this sugar to grow.

During pregnancy, the placenta makes hormones that can disrupt the way your body uses insulin. If your body can't use insulin correctly, your blood sugar level gets too high. Then too much blood sugar goes to your baby. This can cause problems for both you and your baby.

You can lower your blood sugar by eating right, exercising, and taking medicines that your doctor prescribes to control your blood sugar. You will check your own blood sugars. Keeping your blood sugar in your target range greatly lowers the chance of problems—like your baby growing too large, a difficult delivery, cesarean birth, or your baby needing special care after birth. Most women with well-controlled gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, but your care team will keep a close eye on you and your baby for the rest of pregnancy. After delivery, you will also still be monitored since gestational diabetes makes diabetes more likely for you later in life.