What characterizes gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is characterized by increased maternal insulin production as the body tries to meet the demands of both the mother and the growing fetus during pregnancy. Normally, pregnancy induces a state of insulin resistance, where tissues become less responsive to insulin due to elevated levels of hormones produced by the placenta. As a response, the pancreas increases insulin production to help manage blood glucose levels.

When this increased production is insufficient to overcome the insulin resistance, blood glucose levels can rise, leading to gestational diabetes. This condition typically resolves after childbirth when hormone levels return to normal.

The other options, such as the body's inability to process proteins, low blood sugar levels, and excessive weight loss during pregnancy, do not align with the primary characteristics or effects of gestational diabetes. Instead, gestational diabetes is more closely related to abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism rather than protein processing, and it typically results in elevated blood sugar levels rather than low. Additionally, rather than weight loss, many women with gestational diabetes might experience excessive weight gain during pregnancy due to the metabolic changes and increased caloric needs.