No absolute cause of gestational diabetes has ever been established. There are theories, of course. One theory is that during pregnancy, the placenta produces and releases excess estrogen and cortisol, and these excess hormones somehow interfere with insulin released by the pancreas. But that is just a theory, and only one of several.

There aren’t a lot of certainties concerning gestational diabetes, but medical professionals do agree that some women are more at risk for contracting gestational diabetes than others. Risk factors include:

* Any past family history of gestational diabetes (mother, grandmother, sister)

* Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

* Obesity

* Pregnant women over the age of 35

* Women who have had a stillbirth

* Women who have experienced gestational diabetes in previous pregnancy

Gestational diabetes is serious. Left untreated, it can cause severe complications with the fetus, such as congenital defects, abnormal physiological and neurological development, and other conditions like macrosomia, jaundice, hypoglycemia, and injuries during the actual birth of the baby.

The problems caused by gestational diabetes for the mother don’t stop with the birth of the child, either. There’s a high risk of preeclampsia (hypertension, presence of excess protein in the urine, and a host of other problems). Women who have had gestational diabetes are very prone to developing Type 2 diabetes within two years.

The symptoms of gestational diabetes to look for and to report to your doctor are:

* Unquenchable thirst

* Increased frequency of urination

* Excessive hunger

* Fatigue, nausea and vomiting

Of course, many of the above listed symptoms are common to pregnancy (particularly early pregnancy) anyway, but the thing to look for is their occurring during the 24th to 28th week of gestation.

The good news is that gestational diabetes can be treated very effectively. Medication is the treatment for gestational diabetes that is least preferred by most doctors. Diet modification is the first, safest, and best option for treating gestational diabetes.