Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and is usually caused by hormonal metabolic changes that your body is undergoing. Glucose levels increase, but do not become excessively high. The diagnosis of this condition is usually detected by your gynaecologist during prenatal tests and usually becomes apparent between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

As a mother, you have the opportunity to control your diabetes through diet and exercise. And if necessary, you must resort to insulin injections or medication to ensure that the birth, the baby and your health progress normally. Some of the problems you may have are.

• Your baby is born too big: A rise in the baby’s blood sugar can cause the baby to be “overfed”. A large baby often causes discomfort in the last months of pregnancy, and you may need a caesarean section at delivery.

• C-section: Even if your baby does not overgrow, if you do not control your diabetes, you are more likely to need a C-section. C-section is a delivery process that will take longer to recover from.

• Hypoglycaemia: If you are taking insulin or other diabetes medication and your blood glucose is not under constant control, it can cause your blood sugar to drop, which can lead to serious problems. Also, when your baby is born, your baby’s levels may drop dramatically. Your baby should be kept under observation for several hours after birth.

• High blood pressure: If you have diabetes, you are more likely to have high blood pressure. It can lead to seizures or strokes. It can also lead to premature birth.

The good news is that if you regularly monitor your blood glucose levels, with some exercise and a healthy diet, it usually goes away after you give birth. If you have this type of diabetes, talk to your doctor about exercise and diet.

But it doesn’t stop after you give birth. You should regularly monitor your blood glucose levels, as both you and your baby are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.