Diabetes is a condition that causes high levels of sugar in the blood. Some women have diabetes before they become pregnant. Others develop it during pregnancy, a form called gestational diabetes. Approximately 3 to 5 percent of all pregnant women in the United States are diagnosed as having gestational diabetes.
Hormones cause a normal rise in blood sugar in all pregnant women.
You may develop diabetes in pregnancy if your body has trouble with this increase in blood sugar. You may need to start a special diet or even take insulin injections. If you had diabetes before you became pregnant, it may be harder for you to control your sugar levels during pregnancy. You may need to change your insulin dosage. Very large babies tend to have more problems before and after birth.