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Glucose Tolerance Test and Gestational Diabetes

What You Need to Know

By Sharon Waldrop

According to the American Diabetes Association, the birth of a big baby is hard on both the mother and baby. This sometimes occurs during gestational diabetes because the fetus produces extra insulin due to the extra sugar in the mother's blood. The extra insulin is stored as fat, normally in the baby's shoulders and/or trunk.

"Most women who develop diabetes during pregnancy will revert back to normal blood sugars within days after delivery," says Dr. James M. Proulx, attending staff physician in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn. There are a few women whose diabetes may continue, and all gestational diabetics should be screened to assure that the condition has indeed resolved prior to the six-week postpartum exam. Since a woman who was diabetic during pregnancy is at risk to develop overt diabetes in the future, she should periodically be screened for this condition thereafter.

Stephanie Scodellaro and her husband, Roman, are the parents of 4-year-old Kyle. The Scodellaro family is awaiting the arrival of Kyle's brother or sister. Scodellaro's recent glucose tolerance test shows an insulin level on the borderline of actual diabetes.

Scodellaro's glucose level does not require insulin injections, but the elevated level of blood sugar is a concern. Her obstetrician referred Scodellaro to a nutritionist for a consultation. Through diet strategies, Scodellaro, her doctor and nutritionist are confident that a full-blown case of diabetes is not in the future.