Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) Health Exam

What type of diabetes may develop during pregnancy?

1. Type 1 diabetes

2. Type 2 diabetes

3. Gestational diabetes

4. Latent autoimmune diabetes

The correct answer is: Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that specifically occurs during pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels that develop during pregnancy in women who did not previously have diabetes. This condition usually resolves after giving birth, although women who have had gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas produces little to no insulin, and it typically develops earlier in life, which does not align with the temporary nature of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes, while it can occur in pregnant women, isn’t specific to pregnancy itself; it is typically associated with factors such as obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Latent autoimmune diabetes, often referred to as LADA, is a slowly progressing form of type 1 diabetes that usually develops in adults and is not specifically related to pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is therefore the condition that is unique to the experience of pregnancy, making it the correct answer in this context.