Definitely.
When there are cases of diabetes in the immediate family (parents and siblings), it means that genetically speaking, you are predisposed to gestational diabetes.
Several factors can increase the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women:
- a family history of diabetes (parents, siblings)
- a history of gestational diabetes or glucose intolerance (pre-diabetes) in previous pregnancies
- being significantly overweight (obesity)
- being from Latin America, Asia, Africa or being Native American
- being over 35 years old
- having polycystic ovary syndrome
- taking corticosteroids (eg. hydrocortisone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, triamcinolone)
- being pregnant with twins or more.
If during the pregnancy the baby is much bigger than average at ultrasounds or if the amniotic fluid is present in excessive amounts, gestational diabetes is suspected, even if a diabetes test was negative.
For the consequences of poorly controlled or undiagnosed gestational diabetes, see the question on the glucose tolerance test.