Does a woman with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of getting diabetes later in life?

Yes. She has a 30 to 65% risk of having gestational diabetes in a future pregnancy.

In addition, about 50 to 60% of women with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes later in their lives.

To minimize your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, your doctor may recommend that you lose excess weight after pregnancy. Breast feeding is a healthy and efficient way to lose weight after delivery, in addition to providing many advantages for your baby. In fact, by six weeks after the birth, nursing mothers have usually lost four pounds more than bottle feeders.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet also can help you lose pregnancy weight—and discourage the development of diabetes.