All pregnant women are at risk for gestational diabetes.

General Diabetes Statistics Almost everyone knows someone who has diabetes. An estimated 20.8 million people in the United States—7.0 percent of the population—have diabetes, a serious, lifelong condition. Of those, 14.6 million have been diagnosed, and 6.2 million have not yet been diagnosed. In 2005, about 1.5 million people aged 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes. For additional statistics, see the National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet online at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics or call the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse at 1–800–860–8747 to request a copy. Although all women who become pregnant can develop gestational diabetes, it is more common in women over age 30, who are overweight, or another pre-existing metabolic disorder like syndrome X, pre-diabetes, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS),

What is gestational diabetes?

Some women develop gestational diabetes late in pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually disappears after the birth of the baby, women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years. Maintaining a reasonable body weight and being physically active may help prevent development of type 2 diabetes.

 

How many women get gestational diabetes?

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. Women with gestational diabetes may not experience any symptoms.

 

Some women with gestational diabetes may need Insulin

This means without taking insulin each day a pregnant women with gestational diabetes can have health problems including life-threatening complications before or when giving birth. If a women with gestational diabetes takes too little or too much insulin she and her baby can suffer serious medical complications or even rapid death.

It is CRITICAL for all people who need insulin to have enough insulin AND blood glucose testing supplies to manage their care each day.  IPump, thanks to our generous donors, is able to provide financial assistance for the purchase of insulin and free diabetes supplies to those in need -- including women with gestational diabetes.

Your gifts really do save lives of people with diabetes as well as unborn children of mothers who suffer from gestational diabetes!