What Is the Relationship of Pregnancy and Diabetes?

QUESTION: What can you tell me about the relationship of pregnancy and
diabetes? My daughter is expecting my first grandchild, and has been told she
has "sugar". This is something new for she never had this condition before.
Can you please explain what is going on? Thank you for your help, from a very
anxious mother and grandmother to be.
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ANSWER: Some women who get pregnant get diabetes, but this type of diabetes,
called "gestational" diabetes, usually goes away when the baby is delivered.
The physical changes of pregnancy cause the diabetes in some women.
Women who get gestational diabetes usually have at least one of these
characteristics: they have had a previous stillbirth; they have had babies
that weigh more than nine pounds; they have had babies with birth defects;
they have a family history of diabetes; they have had obstetric complications,
such as high blood pressure; they have had gestational diabetes with a
previous pregnancy. Of course it is also possible that even when none of
these are present, the condition may still develop.
It is especially important for a woman with this type of diabetes, or any
form of this disease to get early prenatal care. The doctor will require a
thorough history, so he can spot any of the risk factors and test and treat
your daughter accordingly. Uncontrolled diabetes is not healthy for the baby
or the mother. It can cause birth defects and death for the baby if it is not
fully treated. The good news is that proper treatment can prevent such
tragedies.
Of course, a woman who had diabetes before she becomes pregnant will not
be "cured" by the delivery of her baby--she will still be diabetic afterwards.
Since there is no history of this disease in your daughter, it is likely that
her sugar problem will disappear after the birth of your grandchild.