A nurse is providing education to a pregnant woman who has gestational diabetes.

The nurse should explain that the woman has a higher risk of developing which of the following conditions in the future?

The correct answer is choice A. Regular appointments allow for insulin therapy initiation if needed.This is because gestational diabetes is a condition in which women develop high blood sugar during pregnancy, which can cause complications for both the mother and the baby.Insulin is a hormone that helps lower blood sugar levels, and some women with gestational diabetes may need to take insulin injections to control their blood sugar.

Choice B is wrong because prenatal appointments do not help in diagnosing gestational diabetes.Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed by a blood test that measures the glucose levels before and after meals.This test is typically done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Choice C is wrong because attending appointments does not ensure access to emotional support.Emotional support is important for pregnant women, especially those with gestational diabetes, but it can be provided by other sources such as family, friends, counselors or support groups.

Choice D is wrong because regular appointments do not allow for adjustment of insulin dosage.Insulin dosage is determined by the blood sugar levels of the woman, which she can monitor at home using a glucose meter.The doctor or midwife may adjust the insulin dosage based on the results of the blood tests and the feedback from the woman.

The correct answer is choiceD.

No history of endocrine disorders.This factor increases the client’s risk of developing gestational diabetes because endocrine disorders such as thyroid disease or polycystic ovary syndrome can affect insulin resistance and glucose metabolism.

Choice A is wrong because having a previous baby withlow birth weightis not a risk factor for gestational diabetes.In fact, having a previous baby withhigh birth weight(> 9 pounds) is a risk factor.

Choice B is wrong because being ofCaucasian originis not a risk factor for gestational diabetes.In fact, being ofnon-Caucasian originsuch as African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander is a risk factor.

Choice C is wrong because havingno family history of diabetesis not a risk factor for gestational diabetes.In fact, having afamily history of diabetes(especially type 2 diabetes) in a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) is a risk factor.

Some other risk factors for gestational diabetes include being older than 25 years, being overweight or obese, having prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, having a history of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, having hypertension or preeclampsia, or having polycystic ovary syndrome.

Normal ranges for fasting plasma glucose are 60 to 99 mg/dL for nonpregnant women and 70 to 95 mg/dL for pregnant women.Normal ranges for oral glucose tolerance test are less than 140 mg/dL at 1 hour and less than 120 mg/dL at 2 hours for nonpregnant women and less than 180 mg/dL at 1 hour and less than 155 mg/dL at 2 hours for pregnant women.