Huge rise in gestational diabetes cases

Sally Shing was diagnosed with gestational diabetes six weeks ago.

Her sister louise was also diagnosed during her pregnancy.

"We didn't have any family history of diabetes or gestational diabetes and neither of us fit into the high risk areas," Ms Shing said.

It occurs when changing hormone levels alter the body's requirements for insulin.

Just like other forms of diabetes, the rates are increasing.

Melinda Morrison, from Diabetes New South Wales says the latest figures in that state show the prevalence of gestational diabetes has increased tenfold every five years for the past decade.

The jump is due in part to better screening, but is caused by rising levels of obesity and the older age of pregnant women.

In New South Wales, 10,000 women had gestational diabetes last year, with that figure predicted to explode to more than 90,000 by 2012.

"At the moment, New South Wales is the only state to have looked at this data," Ms Morrison said.

"But you would assume if it is happening in New South Wales, that there could be increasing prevalence across the country."

Gestational diabetes usually disappears once the baby is born.

But women who have had have the condition face a 10-times greater risk of developing type two diabetes later in life.

That risk can be reduced by maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.

"It's definitely something that I want to continue to monitor to make sure it is in control," she said.

Ms Shing's baby is due in early December. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation