Gestational Diabetes
Diagnosed with high blood sugar in pregnancy? Gestational diabetes is common, usually manageable, and most often resolves after birth — with the right support for you and your baby.
General education, not a diagnosis. SHELY is pre-launch — “Talk to someone” adds you to our experts waitlist; we don’t offer bookings yet.
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in women who didn't have diabetes before. During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that make the body more resistant to insulin. Usually the body makes extra insulin to cope — but when it can't keep up, blood sugar rises.
It usually appears in the second half of pregnancy and often has no obvious symptoms, which is exactly why routine screening (an oral glucose tolerance test) is offered. South Asian women are at higher risk, so screening is especially important in India even without typical risk factors.
The reassuring part: well-controlled gestational diabetes usually leads to a healthy pregnancy and baby, and blood sugar typically returns to normal after delivery. Managing it — through diet, movement, monitoring, and sometimes medication or insulin — protects against complications like a larger baby and difficulties at birth. Having had GDM does raise your future risk of type-2 diabetes, so a check-up after birth matters.
Signs & symptoms
- Often no symptoms at all — which is why screening is routine
- Unusual thirst and a dry mouth
- Needing to pass urine more often than usual
- Tiredness beyond normal pregnancy fatigue
- Occasionally, blurred vision
- (Most cases are found through the glucose test, not symptoms)
What causes it
- Pregnancy hormones from the placenta increasing insulin resistance
- The body being unable to make enough extra insulin to compensate
- South Asian ethnicity, which carries higher background risk
- A family history of type-2 diabetes
- Higher body weight or weight gain before pregnancy
- Previous gestational diabetes or a previous large baby
- Older maternal age and conditions like PCOS
When to seek help
Attend all antenatal appointments — gestational diabetes is usually picked up by a routine glucose test between 24 and 28 weeks (earlier if you're higher risk), not by symptoms. If you're diagnosed, your care team will guide monitoring; contact them if your home blood-sugar readings are repeatedly high or very low, if your baby's movements change, or if you feel unwell. After birth, make sure you have the recommended follow-up blood test, as GDM raises your long-term risk of type-2 diabetes.
How SHELY helps
Pregnancy Week by Week
Understand what's happening each week and where gestational-diabetes screening fits into your antenatal care.
SHELY Care
Log blood-sugar readings, meals, and movement so you and your care team can see what's working.
SHELY Varsity
Practical, India-relevant guides on managing blood sugar in pregnancy through everyday food and activity.
Not sure what comes next?
Pick a topic to explore what we know about Gestational Diabetes. Educational only — not a diagnosis.
- Often no symptoms at all — which is why screening is routine
- Unusual thirst and a dry mouth
- Needing to pass urine more often than usual
- Tiredness beyond normal pregnancy fatigue
- Occasionally, blurred vision
- (Most cases are found through the glucose test, not symptoms)
- Pregnancy hormones from the placenta increasing insulin resistance
- The body being unable to make enough extra insulin to compensate
- South Asian ethnicity, which carries higher background risk
- A family history of type-2 diabetes
- Higher body weight or weight gain before pregnancy
- Previous gestational diabetes or a previous large baby
- Older maternal age and conditions like PCOS
Attend all antenatal appointments — gestational diabetes is usually picked up by a routine glucose test between 24 and 28 weeks (earlier if you're higher risk), not by symptoms. If you're diagnosed, your care team will guide monitoring; contact them if your home blood-sugar readings are repeatedly high or very low, if your baby's movements change, or if you feel unwell. After birth, make sure you have the recommended follow-up blood test, as GDM raises your long-term risk of type-2 diabetes.
Pregnancy Week by Week
Understand what's happening each week and where gestational-diabetes screening fits into your antenatal care.
SHELY Care
Log blood-sugar readings, meals, and movement so you and your care team can see what's working.
SHELY Varsity
Practical, India-relevant guides on managing blood sugar in pregnancy through everyday food and activity.
Symptoms
- Often no symptoms at all — which is why screening is routine
- Unusual thirst and a dry mouth
- Needing to pass urine more often than usual
- Tiredness beyond normal pregnancy fatigue
- Occasionally, blurred vision
- (Most cases are found through the glucose test, not symptoms)
Causes
- Pregnancy hormones from the placenta increasing insulin resistance
- The body being unable to make enough extra insulin to compensate
- South Asian ethnicity, which carries higher background risk
- A family history of type-2 diabetes
- Higher body weight or weight gain before pregnancy
- Previous gestational diabetes or a previous large baby
- Older maternal age and conditions like PCOS
When to seek care
Attend all antenatal appointments — gestational diabetes is usually picked up by a routine glucose test between 24 and 28 weeks (earlier if you're higher risk), not by symptoms. If you're diagnosed, your care team will guide monitoring; contact them if your home blood-sugar readings are repeatedly high or very low, if your baby's movements change, or if you feel unwell. After birth, make sure you have the recommended follow-up blood test, as GDM raises your long-term risk of type-2 diabetes.
How SHELY helps
Pregnancy Week by Week
Understand what's happening each week and where gestational-diabetes screening fits into your antenatal care.
SHELY Care
Log blood-sugar readings, meals, and movement so you and your care team can see what's working.
SHELY Varsity
Practical, India-relevant guides on managing blood sugar in pregnancy through everyday food and activity.
Frequently asked
Will gestational diabetes harm my baby?
Well-managed GDM usually leads to a healthy baby. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to a larger baby and birth difficulties, which is exactly why monitoring and management matter — they greatly reduce these risks.
Does it go away after birth?
In most women blood sugar returns to normal soon after delivery. However, having had gestational diabetes raises your future risk of type-2 diabetes, so a follow-up blood test and healthy habits afterwards are important.
Can I manage it without medication?
Many women control gestational diabetes with diet and physical activity alone. Some need tablets or insulin if blood sugar stays high — this is common, safe in pregnancy, and not a sign of failure.
Why am I being screened when I feel fine?
Gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms, so screening is the only reliable way to catch it. South Asian women are at higher risk, making the routine glucose test especially worthwhile.
✔ Written from established medical guidance — independent clinical review in progress
This guide is for general education and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your health. In an emergency or crisis, see our crisis support resources.