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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Why do I have gestational diabetes?

    Related Topics
    Endocrinology Gestational Diabetes
    I am 30 years old and pregnant with my first child. I have always eaten a well balanced diet and exercised regularly. Why have I been diagnosed with gestational diabetes?
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  • Jane Karpavicius

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    Jane is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who specialises in nutrition for pregnancy and women's health and has expertise in the management of gestational diabetes. Jane … View Profile

    Hi there, unfortunately gestational diabetes affects even the most healthy women. There are certain risk factors which will increase the risk of gestational diabetes such as being overweight (BMI >30), gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy, being older than 30, a family history of diabetes (type 2 or gestational) and your ethnicity (e.g. South Asian, Maori, Indigenous Australian, Islander). Some of these are out of your control!
    It is thought that those who get gestational diabetes were likely to develop diabetes at some stage during their lives but it is presenting early.  In pregnancy there is a natural increase in insulin resistance- those who develop gestational diabetes are unable to produce enough insulin to overcome this.
    If you maintain your healthy, active lifestyle and return to a healthy weight after your pregnancy your chances of developing type 2 diabetes will be minimised.

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  • Claire Kerslake

    Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE), Diabetes Educator

    Claire Kerslake is a Credentialed Diabetes Educator, Registered Nurse and Health Coach based in Deniliquin in country New South Wales. Claire is the founder of … View Profile

    HI,
    It is fabulous that you already have those healthy habits in eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly as they will make SUCH a difference - not only in your life but as an example to your children.  It is really important that you stay within a healthy weight range and also around 6-12 weeks after having bub, have a glucose tolerance test which checks to make sure that you haven't developed type 2 diabetes.  Your doctor can arrange this.

    All the very best for your pregnancy

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