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`Diabetes
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`Gestational Diabetes
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`Follow a healthy eating plan to nourish you and your baby.
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`Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy in women who don’t already have diabetes.
`Every year, 2% to 10% of pregnancies in the United States are a ected by gestational diabetes. Managing gestational diabetes
`will help make sure you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
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`What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
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`Gestational diabetes occurs when your body can’t make enough insulin during your pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone made by
`your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into the cells in your body for use as energy.
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`During pregnancy, your body makes more hormones and goes through other changes, such as weight gain. These changes
`cause your body’s cells to use insulin less e ectively, a condition called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance increases your
`body’s need for insulin.
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`All pregnant women have some insulin resistance during late pregnancy. However, some women have insulin resistance even
`before they get pregnant. They start pregnancy with an increased need for insulin and are more likely to have gestational
`diabetes.
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`Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
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`About 50% of women with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes, but there are steps you can take to
`prevent it. Talk to your doctor about how to lower your risk and how often to have your blood sugar checked to make
`sure you’re on track.
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`Symptoms and Risk Factors
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`Gestational diabetes typically doesn’t have any symptoms. Your medical history and whether you have any risk factors may
`suggest to your doctor that you could have gestational diabetes, but you’ll need to be tested to know for sure.
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`Related Health Problems
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`Having gestational diabetes can increase your risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy. It can also increase your risk of
`having a large baby that needs to be delivered by cesarean section (C-section).
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`If you have gestational diabetes, your baby is at higher risk of:
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`Being very large (9 pounds or more), which can make delivery more di cult
`Being born early, which can cause breathing and other problems
`Having low blood sugar
`Developing type 2 diabetes later in life
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`Your blood sugar levels will usually return to normal after your baby is born. However, about 50% of women with gestational
`diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes. You can lower your risk by reaching a healthy body weight after delivery. Visit your
`doctor to have your blood sugar tested 6 to 12 weeks after your baby is born and then every 1 to 3 years to make sure your
`levels are on target.
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`Testing for Gestational Diabetes
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`It’s important to be tested for gestational diabetes so you can begin treatment to protect your health and your baby’s health.
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`Gestational diabetes usually develops around the 24 week of pregnancy, so you’ll probably be tested between 24 and 28
`th
`weeks.
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`If you’re at higher risk for gestational diabetes, your doctor may test you earlier. Blood sugar that’s higher than normal early in
`your pregnancy may indicate you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes rather than gestational diabetes.
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`Prevention
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`Before you get pregnant, you may be able to prevent gestational diabetes by losing weight if you’re overweight and getting
`regular physical activity.
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`Don’t try to lose weight if you’re already pregnant. You’ll need to gain some weight—but not too quickly—for your baby to be
`healthy. Talk to your doctor about how much weight you should gain for a healthy pregnancy.
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`Treatment for Gestational Diabetes
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`You can do a lot to manage your gestational diabetes. Go to all your prenatal appointments and follow your treatment plan,
`including:
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`Checking your blood sugar to make sure your levels stay in a healthy range.
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`Eating healthy food in the right amounts at the right times. Follow a healthy eating plan created by your doctor or
`dietitian.
`Being active. Regular physical activity that’s moderately intense (such as brisk walking) lowers your blood sugar and
`makes you more sensitive to insulin so your body won’t need as much. Make sure to check with your doctor about what
`kind of physical activity you can do and if there are any kinds you should avoid.
`Monitoring your baby. Your doctor will check your baby’s growth and development.
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`If healthy eating and being active aren’t enough to manage your blood sugar, your doctor may prescribe insulin, metformin,
`or other medication.
`Learn More
`
`Diabetes During Pregnancy
`Diabetes and Women
`Insulin Resistance
`Diabetes Articles
`Infographics
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`Last Reviewed: December 30, 2022
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`Novo Nordisk Exhibit 2354
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`IPR2023-00724
`Page 00003
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