{"id":2589,"date":"2022-04-13T16:58:47","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/?post_type=chapter&p=2589"},"modified":"2025-08-21T23:30:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T03:30:31","slug":"gestational-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathology\/chapter\/gestational-diabetes\/","title":{"raw":"Gestational Diabetes","rendered":"Gestational Diabetes"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n
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  • Identify some risk factors of developing gestational diabetes mellitus.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Identify the manifestations of gestational mellitus.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nGestational diabetes mellitus is similar to T2DM, except that it is associated with pregnancy. As such, it often resolves shortly before or after birth. As the fetus grows, its demands for tissue growth causes a similar increased demand for both insulin and circulating nutrients. In conjunction with hormones associated with pregnancy, the mother's cells can't use its own insulin effectively causing a temporary insulin resistance. In fact, all pregnant women have some level of insulin resistance during late pregnancy, but not necessarily diagnosable gestational diabetes. Thus, many of the mother's symptoms overlap T2DM: hyperglycemia, polyuria, polydipsia (thirst), and polyphagia (hunger).\r\n\r\nThere is an association between gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (gestational hypertension). The mechanism is not well understood. However, if the mother already has diabetes-induced changes in microvasculature, the risk of developing gestational hypertension is greater.\r\n\r\nThe baby receives all of the mother's nutrients and insulin. Because insulin is an anabolic hormone (i.e. builds tissues), babies of mothers with gestational diabetes will tend to be larger than average. Because of the high amount of circulating insulin in utero, the baby may have sudden hypoglycemia upon birth as that insulin makes the tissues take up the circulating glucose even though maternal supply has been cut off.\r\n\r\nPregnancy is the biggest risk factor for gestational diabetes. However, if the mother has risk factors for T2DM as well, the mother is more likely to develop gestational diabetes.\r\n
    <\/div>\r\n
    <\/div>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8757\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1121\"]\"Diagram Diagram summarizing risk factors, diagnoses methods, and manifestations of gestational diabetes in both the mother and child.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n
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    Section Review<\/h2>\r\nGestational diabetes is caused by pregnancy which causes an abundance of insulin and nutrients circulating in the maternal blood. As such, maternal tissues become resistant to insulin - akin to a temporary form of T2DM which resolves in the mother upon birth. Maternal symptoms would be excessive thirst and urination. The baby exposed to high levels of nutrient and insulin may be large and have temporary hypoglycemia (due to maternal hyperinsulinemia).\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Review Questions<\/h1>\r\n
    [h5p id=\"98\"]<\/div>\r\n
    [h5p id=\"361\"]<\/div>\r\n
    \r\n\r\n1. Pregnancy is a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus and is developed in the fetus.<\/strong>\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • True<\/li>\r\n \t
    • False<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n2. Fill in the blanks.<\/strong>\r\nSome possible clinical manifestations for gestational diabetes mellitus are _____.\r\n\r\n3. Which of the following can occur as a clinical manifestation of gestational diabetes mellitus?<\/strong>\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • Baby is greater than 9 lb during delivery<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Baby is likely to develop T1DM later in life<\/li>\r\n \t
      • All of the above<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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        Answer Key<\/h2>\r\n
          \r\n \t
        1. False<\/li>\r\n \t
        2. Higher than normal sugar, sugar\/glucose in urine, high blood pressure<\/li>\r\n \t
        3. Baby is greater than 9 lb during delivery<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
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          Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

          \n

          By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Identify some risk factors of developing gestational diabetes mellitus.<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Identify the manifestations of gestational mellitus.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

            Gestational diabetes mellitus is similar to T2DM, except that it is associated with pregnancy. As such, it often resolves shortly before or after birth. As the fetus grows, its demands for tissue growth causes a similar increased demand for both insulin and circulating nutrients. In conjunction with hormones associated with pregnancy, the mother’s cells can’t use its own insulin effectively causing a temporary insulin resistance. In fact, all pregnant women have some level of insulin resistance during late pregnancy, but not necessarily diagnosable gestational diabetes. Thus, many of the mother’s symptoms overlap T2DM: hyperglycemia, polyuria, polydipsia (thirst), and polyphagia (hunger).<\/p>\n

            There is an association between gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (gestational hypertension). The mechanism is not well understood. However, if the mother already has diabetes-induced changes in microvasculature, the risk of developing gestational hypertension is greater.<\/p>\n

            The baby receives all of the mother’s nutrients and insulin. Because insulin is an anabolic hormone (i.e. builds tissues), babies of mothers with gestational diabetes will tend to be larger than average. Because of the high amount of circulating insulin in utero, the baby may have sudden hypoglycemia upon birth as that insulin makes the tissues take up the circulating glucose even though maternal supply has been cut off.<\/p>\n

            Pregnancy is the biggest risk factor for gestational diabetes. However, if the mother has risk factors for T2DM as well, the mother is more likely to develop gestational diabetes.<\/p>\n

            <\/div>\n
            <\/div>\n
            \"Diagram
            Diagram summarizing risk factors, diagnoses methods, and manifestations of gestational diabetes in both the mother and child.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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            Section Review<\/h2>\n

            Gestational diabetes is caused by pregnancy which causes an abundance of insulin and nutrients circulating in the maternal blood. As such, maternal tissues become resistant to insulin – akin to a temporary form of T2DM which resolves in the mother upon birth. Maternal symptoms would be excessive thirst and urination. The baby exposed to high levels of nutrient and insulin may be large and have temporary hypoglycemia (due to maternal hyperinsulinemia).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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            Review Questions<\/h1>\n
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