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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Pregnancy and Diabetes
Contact the Maternal and Child Health Section
- 850-245-4465
-
Fax
850-245-4047 -
Mailing Address
Maternal and Child Health Section
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A13
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1721
Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot change sugars and starches (carbohydrates) into energy. This happens when the body cannot make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes. As a result, extra sugar in the blood can lead to damage in the blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves.
If you are a woman with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you can have a healthy baby, but you will need to take extra care before and during your pregnancy.
- Learn how to get ready for a healthy pregnancy by visiting:
Got diabetes? Thinking about having a baby?
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Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that may occur when a woman is pregnant. This type of diabetes is 
caused by a change in the way a woman's body responds to the hormone insulin during her pregnancy. This change results in elevated levels of blood sugar, also known as blood glucose.
Gestational diabetes affects an estimated five percent of women during pregnancy. It is important to diagnose and treat gestational diabetes to avoid health complications for you and your baby.
- For more information on gestational diabetes, please visit the following pages:
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