About 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women in the United States develop gestational diabetes. As with type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes occurs more often in some ethnic groups and among women with a family history of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin. You may not experience any symptoms.

After you've delivered your baby, it is important to be vigilant about eating right and staying active: women who have had gestational diabetes carry a 50% risk of developing type 2 diabetes 7 to 10 years later. Unlike gestational diabetes, once type 2 has been diagnosed, it doesn't go away. If you have had gestational diabetes and are overweight, aim to lose 7% of your pre-pregnancy weight, which will reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 60%.