- Gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy) is common in Australia and needs proper management to protect mum and baby.
- Symptoms might be subtle or absent, risk assessment and screening are crucial.
- Australian testing guidelines emphasise the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24‑28 weeks, with earlier testing for higher risk women and stricter thresholds under recent ADIPS guidance.
- Management focuses on diet, physical activity, monitoring and medical support when needed.
- Preventive lifestyle measures can reduce your risk, but some factors are beyond control, so engagement with care is key.
- With informed care and support, most women with GDM in Australia have healthy pregnancies and babies.
Pregnancy is a wonderful milestone, but for some, it comes with additional health considerations. One of these is pregnancy diabetes, more commonly referred to in Australia as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This condition develops when your body struggles to regulate blood sugar during pregnancy.
While many pregnant people with GDM go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies, it’s important to be informed about symptoms, testing, prevention and management.
In this article you’ll find: what gestational diabetes is, the common symptoms during pregnancy, what causes it, how it’s tested in Australia, prevention strategies, and how it’s treated.
What is pregnancy diabetes?
Pregnancy diabetes usually refers to gestational diabetes, diabetes that’s first recognised during pregnancy (rather than pre‑existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes). According to Diabetes Australia, gestational diabetes “occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin during pregnancy due to increased insulin resistance from pregnancy hormones.”
It’s also important to note that women with pre‑existing diabetes (type 1 or type 2) will have specialised care under the category of “diabetes in pregnancy” which is managed differently.
Common symptoms of gestational diabetes during pregnancy
Many women with GDM may not notice any clear symptoms, which is why screening and monitoring are so important. But some of the signs of pregnancy diabetes in Australia can include:
- Increased thirst and more frequent urination
- Feeling unusually tired or fatigued
- Blurred vision
- Repeated infections (for example urinary tract or vaginal yeast infections)
Because some of these symptoms overlap with “normal” pregnancy changes, it’s wise to discuss them with your maternal health provider, especially if you have risk factors.
What causes diabetes during pregnancy?
Understanding what causes diabetes during pregnancy can help you feel more empowered.
- During pregnancy the placenta produces hormones that make the body more resistant to insulin. If your pancreas cannot keep up with this increased demand, your blood glucose levels may rise.
- Risk factors include being overweight or obese before pregnancy, having had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, having given birth to a large baby, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, and certain ethnic backgrounds.
- These factors mean some women may require more careful monitoring and lifestyle support.
Testing for gestational diabetes during pregnancy in Australia
In Australia, the approach to testing for gestational diabetes during pregnancy has recently been updated by the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) and other bodies.
Here are the key points:
- All pregnant women (without previously diagnosed diabetes) are generally advised to undertake a 75 g 2‑hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at around 24‑28 weeks’ gestation to check for gestational diabetes.
- After birth, women with GDM are usually advised to have follow‑up glucose testing, as they remain at higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
