how do you get gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the increased demand caused by pregnancy hormones that interfere with insulin's effectiveness. These hormones, produced by the placenta, lead to insulin resistance, meaning the body's cells do not use insulin properly. To compensate, the body needs to produce more insulin, especially later in pregnancy. If the pancreas cannot keep up with this demand, blood glucose levels rise, resulting in gestational diabetes. This condition usually develops around the second half of pregnancy, commonly between weeks 24 to 28. Several risk factors increase the likelihood of gestational diabetes, including being over 40 years old, having a family history of diabetes, being overweight or obese, certain ethnic backgrounds (such as South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and African-Caribbean), previous gestational diabetes, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In summary, gestational diabetes arises from hormonal changes in pregnancy causing insulin resistance and insufficient insulin production to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.