Why is it important to detect this condition?

Untreated, high blood sugar levels can threaten your health and the health of your baby. A mother with untreated gestational diabetes can develop preeclampsia, a form of high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy.

Women with gestational diabetes also are more likely than healthy pregnant women to develop urinary tract infections.

Gestational diabetes can also produce a very large baby. That’s because the baby receives extra blood sugar through his mother’s blood. In response, the baby puts on extra fat. If her baby grows too big, the mother may have difficulty with the delivery or need a Cesarean section.

The newborns of mothers with gestational diabetes also may experience low blood sugar levels, jaundice, and some chemical imbalances.

The good news: All of the problems can be prevented if a woman with gestational diabetes adequately controls her blood sugar levels.