Gestational Diabetes Doesn’t Have to Lead to Diabetes

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects about 7% of all U.S. pregnancies, which means approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed each year. Although blood glucose levels usually normalize after a woman has given birth, those who have had GDM have a 20% to 50% chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the future, and their children are at increased risk for obesity during childhood and adolescence.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, NIDDK has released a new tip sheet, It’s Never Too Early to Prevent Diabetes, which can help women and their children take simple steps to improve their health. A Spanish version is also available, titled Nunca Es Muy Temprano Para Prevenir La Diabetes. By making modest changes in lifestyle, such as losing a small amount of weight and being more physically active, at-risk women can prevent or delay the onset of disease.

Next Steps
You can read or download the It’s Never Too Early to Prevent Diabetes tip sheet in PDF format at www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/NeverTooEarly_Tipsheet.pdf.

You can read or download the Spanish tip sheet, Nunca Es Muy Temprano Para Prevenir La Diabetes, by visiting www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/NeverTooEarly_Tipsheet_Spanish.pdf.