Does Gestational Diabetes Resolve After My Baby is Born?

Gestational diabetes can develop during pregnancy, which requires close monitoring. It affects the way your cells use insulin, a hormone, to process glucose (sugar), which can lead to higher-than-normal blood sugar levels and increase your risk of complications like high birth weight and preterm birth. 

If you have gestational diabetes, managing it helps lower your risk of complications during and after pregnancy — but one question we hear often is, “Will gestational diabetes go away after my baby is born?”

Our team at South Valley Women's Health Care provides comprehensive care for high-risk pregnancies, and we’re here to help you understand what a gestational diabetes diagnosis means for your health, both now and after your baby arrives.

Managing gestational diabetes during pregnancy

A gestational diabetes diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. A proactive management plan helps keep you and your baby as healthy as possible, and the goal is to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range throughout your pregnancy.

Managing your blood sugar typically involves a combination of healthy eating, regular physical activity, and regular monitoring. Sometimes, we prescribe insulin or other medications to help control your blood sugar.

Regular prenatal visits are a priority. We track your blood sugar levels and carefully monitor your baby’s growth and development at each stage.

Proper management helps reduce your risk of complications like high blood pressure or the need for a Cesarean section due to a larger baby. If complications do arise, early identification gives us time to develop an appropriate care plan for both you and your baby.

Does gestational diabetes go away after birth?

For most women, gestational diabetes resolves after they have their baby. The placenta is a major cause of insulin resistance during pregnancy, and once it’s delivered, blood sugar levels often return to normal.

However, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar levels for several weeks postpartum to make sure they go back to normal. We often schedule a follow-up glucose test 6-12 weeks after delivery to confirm that your blood sugar has returned to normal levels.

But even though blood sugar levels usually return to normal, the impact of gestational diabetes can linger — and it does increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. 

Long-term considerations after gestational diabetes

About 50% of women who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy will develop type 2 diabetes later on. This makes it essential to maintain healthy lifestyle habits after your pregnancy, including eating a balanced diet, staying active, and monitoring your weight to help reduce this risk.

And if you plan to have more children, be aware that gestational diabetes can occur again in future pregnancies. Discussing your health history with your doctor is important for early diagnosis and management, as well as for overall family planning.

Gestational diabetes typically resolves after childbirth, but its effects can continue to influence your health after you welcome your baby into the world. Managing the condition during pregnancy and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits afterward can help lower your risk of future health complications.

Learn more about the effects gestational diabetes can have on your health, and get a personalized prenatal care plan that fits your unique needs at South Valley Women's Health Care in Bluffdale, Utah. Call us at 801-569-2626 or book online now.