415.202.1200
One Daniel Burnham Court, Suite 230C San Francisco, California 94109
Our Services
Gestational Diabetes
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is diabetes (high blood sugar) that is diagnosed during pregnancy. With gestational diabetes, the hormones produced by the placenta prevent your body’s insulin from being used efficiently causing higher blood sugar than is normal. High blood sugar can cause problems if untreated but research has shown that, with close attention to diet and use of medication as needed, the risks can be minimized. All pregnant women should be screened for diabetes, usually between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
When is gestational diabetes screening performed?
Women are usually screened for diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks but you should be screened earlier in pregnancy if you have additional risk factors.
Low Risk Women
You are low risk if you: have no personal/family history of diabetes, have a healthy body weight, do not belong to a high risk ethnic group, and have no other medical conditions that put you at increased risk for diabetes. You should be screened between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
High Risk Women
You are high risk if you: are more than 20% overweight, have a family member with diabetes, have a history of impaired glucose tolerance including gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, have delivered a large baby (>9 pounds), have used Metformin (Glucophage) prior to or during the pregnancy, have experienced a stillbirth without a known cause or a baby with congenital anomalies, or are of Native American ancestry. You should be screened at your first prenatal visit and if normal, repeat the test again at 24-28 weeks.
How is the screening test done?
One-hour screening test (GLT): You will drink a 50-gram sugar soda within 5 minutes time. Your blood is drawn 1 hour later. You do not have to fast for this test and there are no special dietary restrictions. You should remain seated throughout the entire hour and should not smoke.
Three-hour diagnostic test (OGTT): If the 1-hour test is abnormal, a 3-hour glucose tolerance (OGTT) test is usually performed. This blood test is done in the morning after you fast for 8 hours but not more than 12. A fasting blood sugar test is drawn and then you drink the 100-gram sugar soda within 5 minutes. Blood is drawn at 1, 2 and 3 hours after the drink. Again, you should remain seated throughout the entire hour and should not smoke.
What do the results mean?
If the results are abnormal, you will be referred for dietary counseling and treatment with a registered dietician and physician.
How will gestational diabetes affect my baby?
High blood sugar can affect babies in various ways. Infants of diabetic mothers are at risk for being overgrown, developing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and jaundice. With good control, these risks can be minimized. Long term, these babies may be at increased risk for developing obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
What if I have questions?
Please call our office with questions or to schedule an appointment: 415-202-1200.
San Francisco Perinatal Associates Diabetes Management Program provides dietary counseling by a registered dietician under the direct supervision of a physician for a variety of conditions including gestational, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, pregnancy after bariatric surgery, irritable or inflammatory bowel conditions, eating disorders and others. We also provide preconception dietary counseling for the above conditions.
