Once the woman with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) delivers her baby, the GDM is gone. The pregnancy hormones are no longer an issue, and she makes enough insulin to keep her body functioning as it should be. At least for a while.
One of the biggest risks with GDM is developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Women who have or have had GDM (even those who delivered a large baby {over 9 pounds} and weren’t diagnosed with GDM) have a roughly 40 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 10 to 20 years. There is research that shows women who took insulin to manage GDM have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
This is something to take very seriously. Women who have had GDM can prevent developing type 2 diabetes by sticking with the healthy habits they established during pregnancy: healthy food choices and regular exercise. Start right away by taking Baby for walks in the stroller.
If you had GDM during a pregnancy, you need to get checked for diabetes routinely. At least yearly, you have a fasting blood glucose drawn to make sure it remains in the normal range. It’s best to prevent type 2 from ever happening, but if you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the earlier it is diagnosed and treated/managed, the better.
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, your children are too. It’s important to lead by example and teach your children to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Teach them to be active every day, and provide healthy food for them.