What happens to gestational diabetes after delivery?

After delivery, gestational diabetes can commonly resolve within 24 hours. This is largely due to the significant hormonal changes that occur after giving birth, particularly the decrease in placental hormones that contribute to insulin resistance during pregnancy. As the body readjusts to its non-pregnant state, many women find that their blood sugar levels return to normal quickly.

While it is important for women with a history of gestational diabetes to continue monitoring their blood sugar levels after childbirth, especially in subsequent pregnancies, the condition itself typically does not persist indefinitely and does not automatically require medication in the postpartum period. Though some women may develop type 2 diabetes later in life, this outcome is not an inevitable consequence of having had gestational diabetes.

The other options do not accurately reflect the common outcomes of gestational diabetes after delivery. For example, it does not only affect the first child, and while some cases may require ongoing medical management, it is not a universal requirement following childbirth.