One nice thing to know is that Gestational Diabetes is not connected with the same birth defects and complications as either the Type 1 or 2 forms of the disease.  What it can lead to is Macrosomia, or “fat baby,” syndrome.  This means an exceptionally large infant that may have trouble fitting through the birth canal and has a higher risk of sustaining injures during the birthing process.

The risks don’t end there though.  Children born to mothers with poorly controlled Gestational Diabetes are more likely to have high insulin levels in the womb and at birth.  Studies show that this places them at a much higher risk of childhood obesity and of eventually developing Type 2 diabetes.  As you well know, either of these problems dramatically increases the risk and prevalence of long term health problems. 

The good news is if you follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor, Gestational Diabetes can be controlled.  In fact proper care of the disease leads to much lower instances of C-sections performed because the infant becomes too large to deliver vaginally.  The key to success here is working closely with your doctor to monitor both you and your baby.  With the proper treatment everything should be fine, and you will find that your sugar levels return to normal after birth.  It is important to note though that Gestational Diabetes can be a warning sign that you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes at some point during your life.  So keep up the healthy habits you adopted during pregnancy and prolong that date for as long as possible.