What are the risks with Gestational Diabetes?

Although any woman can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, some of the factors that may increase the risk include the following:

• overweight or obesity

• family history of diabetes

• having given birth previously to a very large infant, a still birth, or a child with a birth defect

• age

Women who are older than 25 are at a greater risk for developing gestational diabetes than younger women.

• race

Women who are African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander have a higher risk.

• pre-diabetes

Although increased glucose in the urine is often included in the list of risk factors, it is not believed to be a reliable indicator for gestational diabetes.