Diabetes and Pregnancy

Pregnant women may have type 1 or type 2 diabetes before they become pregnant, or may develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). Gestational diabetes, unlike type 1 or type 2, usually does not have any symptoms.

Risk factors for diabetes that warrant testing at the first prenatal visit are:

• Overweight
• Previously given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
• Repeated miscarriages
• Prior unexplained fetal death
• Have a history of abnormal glucose tolerance, or have had “sugar” in your urine
• Have a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes
• The following ethnic groups: Hispanic American, African American, Native American, are from Asia, one of the Pacific Islands, or Australia

For more information click here. To download a brochure click here or here for a Spanish version