Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes, that occurs to pregnant women that develop high blood sugar levels without a previous history of this condition. It develops during pregnancy due to the decreased sensitivity of body tissues to insulin action (so-called insulin resistance), and the insufficient ability of the pancreas to respond to increased metabolic needs during pregnancy (increased insulin production). In most cases, the symptoms of gestational diabetes disappear after birth. It is not associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy, but women affected by gestational diabetes mellitus face an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.