Ask the diabetes expert: Why do pregnant women have a higher chance of getting diabetes?

Q: Why do pregnant women have a higher chance of getting diabetes?

A: During pregnancy the placenta produces hormones that increase the blood sugar levels. If the insulin produced by the pancreas is inadequate then gestational diabetes sets in.

Most women who have diabetes in pregnancy return to their normal pre-pregnancy state after they deliver. But they are at a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future.

Dr Melvin Look, Director of PanAsia Surgery, Consultant in Gastrointestinal and Weight Loss Surgery