The hazards of gestational diabetes: So, what is gestational diabetes? It refers to the onset of varying degrees of hyperglycemia during pregnancy, or its first detection, including previously undetected glucose tolerance abnormalities and diabetes before pregnancy. However, pregnancies in diabetic patients are not included in this category, and should be referred to as diabetes complicating pregnancy. The main dangers of gestational diabetes are that it can jeopardize the health of both the fetus and the mother. The effects and hazards to offspring mainly manifest as an increased risk of fetal intrauterine death, congenital anomalies, and complications. There is also an increased risk of macrosomia, and an increased incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice, polycythemia, and hypocalcemia. Additionally, the risk of obesity, glucose tolerance abnormalities, and diabetes significantly increases in offspring during adolescence or young adulthood.