Generally, most cases of gestational diabetes disappear after pregnancy. This however does need to be confirmed 6-10 weeks after delivery with another 2-hour glucose tolerance test.
50% of mothers with gestational diabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes later in life and this is more likely if the correct lifestyle changes are not undertaken. Type 2 diabetes may develop immediatly after the pregnancy or many years later. Mothers with gestational diabetes should have yearly or 2nd yearly screening for type 2 diabetes for the rest of their life.
If a mother with previous gestational diabetes becomes pregnant again then the next pregnancy should always be considered high risk for subsequent diabetes and be tested for early in pregnancy.