Early Detection: Gestational Diabetes & Preeclampsia

Gestational Diabetes: Who's at Risk?

You may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes if:

• You are over 30 years of age.
• You are obese.
• You have a family history of diabetes.
• You have had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy (you have a 35 to 50 percent chance of developing it again).
• You previously gave birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 1/2 pounds.
• You have experienced a stillbirth.
• You are of African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Pacific Island, South or Eastern Asian, or Native American ancestry.

Preexisting Diabetes

One in 100 women develop diabetes before pregnancy. Unfortunately, women with poorly controlled preexisting diabetes are three to four times more likely than nondiabetic women to have babies with birth defects of the heart or neural tube. Women with preexisting diabetes also have an increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Fortunately, you can significantly reduce these risks by controlling your blood sugar before pregnancy. If you have preexisting diabetes, speak with your doctor before you attempt to conceive.