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Understanding Gestational Diabetes

Did you know that even if you don’t have diabetes normally, you can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, and it can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes at a later stage in life?

Find out more about gestational diabetes and what you can do to lower your risks.

What is gestational diabetes?

You might be more familiar with type 2 diabetes but if you have gestational diabetes, it means that your blood sugar (or blood glucose) levels are high, and that your body can’t produce enough insulin to keep these levels under control.

During pregnancy, women need more insulin to help manage blood sugar levels because of the extra demands on the body that come with being pregnant. This is why women who don’t have diabetes when not pregnant can develop gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes goes away after giving birth, but you may be at risk of developing it in any future pregnancies, and you will be at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Up to 50% of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years of diagnosis. 

How to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Great news is that we offer a choice of 3 programmes to support you to boost your health as a whole and lower your risk in a way that will work for you. 

A supportive online, group programme especially for women who have had gestational diabetes. Learn more about female health, lose weight, feel empowered and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Our face-to-face group programme is run at a range of local venues. Meet like-minded people and attend group sessions each fortnight to learn about healthy living, share your experiences and reduce your risk together. 

Prefer a digital programme? Get free access to the Second Nature app where you will login each week and speak to your health mentor over the phone. 

You’re not alone

Thousands of people have changed their lives with the support of the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

Lose weight Gain confidence

Prevent type 2 diabetes, starting today