What it means
During pregnancy, hormones from the placenta make the body more resistant to insulin. If the pancreas cannot keep up, blood sugar rises. The CDC estimates gestational diabetes affects 5% to 9% of US pregnancies each year.
It is usually managed with eating changes, activity and blood sugar checks, and some people need insulin. Blood sugar usually returns to normal after birth, but the CDC says about half of people who had gestational diabetes later develop type 2 diabetes.
A history of gestational diabetes is a risk factor for insulin resistance and prediabetes, so regular screening after pregnancy is recommended.
GLP-1 weight-management medicines are not recommended during pregnancy, and their labels give advice on stopping before a planned pregnancy and on birth control. Anyone planning pregnancy, or who becomes pregnant while taking one, should talk with their prescriber promptly.
Why it matters
A past gestational diabetes diagnosis raises later diabetes risk and shapes pregnancy planning on a GLP-1.
Related terms
Sources
Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error