How do I Know my Gestational Diabetes is Gone After I Give Birth?

Up to 50% of women who have had gestational diabetes will go on to develop Type 2 diabetes, so it is important to make sure the condition has resolved after your baby is born.

Your doctor or midwife should screen you 6-12 weeks after delivery, using a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. With this test, you will need to fast for approximately 8 hours and then consume a sugar-rich drink. Your blood glucose levels will be checked whilst  you are fasting, and then 1 hour and 2 hours after drinking. Abnormally high glucose levels will indicate that you still have a problem and will need additional monitoring.

Make sure your primary care doctor knows if you have a history of gestational diabetes, as they may wish to screen you every 3 years for diabetes, regardless of your age. In addition, if you are overweight or obese, increased exercise can reduce the risk of you developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

Powered by Bundoo®