Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes which usually women get during pregnancy period. Normally, this condition disappears after delivery. But according to the recent studies, the number of women with this condition is increasing to contract full blown diabetics. The main risk involving with this condition during pregnancy is on the baby which puts on weight due to the extra glucose intake into the baby from mother. Effects on pregnant women involve high blood pressure, risk of C-section delivery and risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes. The treatment involves exercise, diabetic diet and in some cases insulin injections are also suggested. Oral drugs are not suggestive as they may enter the fetal blood stream.

I think it is something that doctors routinely test for nowadays - which is good. I have had such a test done just recently (blood draw).

I have heard about a relative whose GD was not diagnosed on time and not treated, and her baby did grow very large, causing difficult delivery.

Even if gestational diabetes is something that's supposed to clear up after the delivery, it still sounds like something that's very scary. Any kind of condition that arises during the course of the pregnancy is cause for alarm.