Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, typically in the second or third trimester, when hormonal changes interfere with the body’s ability to use insulin effectively. It is usually diagnosed through routine glucose screening and often resolves after childbirth, but it requires careful monitoring and management during pregnancy to reduce risks for both the pregnant person and the baby.
For health journalists, it’s important to note that gestational diabetes is not just a short-term pregnancy complication but also a marker of longer-term health risk. People who experience gestational diabetes face a higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, and their children have increased risks of obesity and metabolic disease. Rates are rising in the U.S. and are disproportionately higher among certain racial and ethnic groups, reflecting broader inequities in access to prenatal care, nutrition, and preventive health services.