Somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks into pregnancy, doctors ensure screening for the presence of gestational diabetes. The hormonal changes (hormones made by the placenta that resist insulin) in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, along with the growth demands of the fetus, increase a pregnant woman's insulin needs by two to three times normal. Insulin is needed to take the sugar from the blood and move it into the body's cells for energy. If your body cannot make this amount of insulin, sugar from the foods you eat will stay in your bloodstream and cause high blood sugars. This is gestational diabetes. It occurs in three to five percent of all pregnancies (in other words, one in 20 pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes). In most cases, gestational diabetes is managed by diet and exercise and goes away after the baby is born. Very few women with gestational diabetes require insulin to control this type of diabetes. Gestational diabetes should not be taken lightly. Immediate risks to the mom and the fetus are very real; however, these risks can be minimized with good care and follow-up. Talk to your Overwaitea Foods pharmacist for more information.