懷孕是一種有致糖尿病前期 (pro-diabetogenic) 的狀態，這種生理變化有利提升循環中血糖來滿足胎兒的需求。妊娠期糖尿病 (gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM)在懷孕期間的發生率2 ~ 14%，或許會增加母親子癲前症、高血壓、剖腹產及日後糖尿病的發生率，GDM 也可能提高胎兒動脈粥樣硬化、巨嬰及成長限制的機率。此外，由於正值生育年齡女性體重過重 (overweight) 及肥胖 (obesity) 人數愈來愈多，以致GDM 確診病患數有上升趨勢。儘管藥物治療被視為改善婦女GDM 的好方法，但在疾病的初期僅少數婦女有典型高血糖症狀。因此，適當飲食及監控良好的運動成為胎兒與母親健康並且預防GDM 惡化的不錯選項。

Pregnancy is a pro-diabetogenic state which is vital for elevating circulating blood glucose to meet fetal demands. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a disease during pregnancy with incidence rate of about 2 to 14%, may lead to increased occurrence rates of pre-eclampsia, hypertension, cesarean section, and diabetes mellitus in the mother. GDM may affect the fetus, such as increased ratios of atherosclerosis, macrosomia, and growth restriction in the fetus. In addition, the incidence of GDM is escalating mainly due to rising numbers of overweight and obesity in the reproductive age group. Although pharmacological intervention is considered a fair management for women with GDM, only few women have classic hyperglycemia symptoms at the initial stage making appropriate diets and supervised exercise good options for general health of the fetus and mother, as well as for prevention of GDM progression.