What condition is specifically identified as being found in pregnant women?

Gestational diabetes is a specific condition that occurs during pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels that develop during pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth. This condition arises due to hormonal changes that affect insulin sensitivity, making it harder for the body to use insulin effectively.

Gestational diabetes is unique because it generally appears around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy in women who did not previously have diabetes. In contrast, type 1 and type 2 diabetes are chronic conditions that can exist before pregnancy. Insulin-dependent diabetes generally refers to type 1 diabetes, where the body does not produce insulin at all, and while pregnant women can have type 1 diabetes, it is not exclusive to this group. Type 2 diabetes, while it can occur in pregnant women, is also not specific to pregnancy as it can be present in the general population prior to conception. Therefore, gestational diabetes is distinctly recognized as a condition that arises specifically as a result of pregnancy-related physiological changes.