I remember taking the glucose tolerance test during my pregnancies. With a strong family history of type 1 diabetes, I anxiously awaited my test results. Luckily, everything was fine.

Unfortunately, more pregnant women might receive a diagnosis of gestational diabetes in the future, as blood glucose criteria guidelines may widen. Last Friday, researchers at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting in Chicago reported even moderately elevated glucose during pregnancy is associated with problems such as cesarean section and heavier babies. The study examined effects of less severe levels of blood sugar during pregnancy, not high enough to warrant a gestational diabetes diagnosis, but higher than ideal levels.

Boyd Metzger, principal investigator, explained the study tried to find where clinically significant effects occur on the spectrum of normal to abnormal glucose during pregnancy. Glucose levels were measured in 25,000 pregnant women from nine countries. Findings revealed women with the highest levels were six times more likely to birth an overweight baby and ten times more likely to have a baby with elevated blood insulin, compared to women in the lowest levels of glucose. Here's the kicker -- women ranging just below the current criteria for gestational diabetes still had a higher risk for problems. They were two to four times more likely to have newborns with high birth weight or elevated insulin levels.

Researchers acknowledge discussion is needed before criteria guidelines are revised, and the study begs more research over how pregnant women with mildly elevated sugar should be treated. Until then, pregnant women should be aware having an elevated sugar level not typically considered gestational diabetes is not a safe place for mom or baby. A more comprehensive article was published in yesterday's Chicago Tribune.