Gestational diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person does not have diabetes before pregnancy but develops hyperglycemia during pregnancy, and it is now common and increasing in incidence. During pregnancy, a pregnant woman’s blood sugar is usually slightly elevated to provide the nutrients needed by the fetus. If the body fails to adapt to this change and develops high blood sugar that is outside the normal range, it is called gestational diabetes. It is recommended that all pregnant women have a screening test for gestational diabetes, known as the glucose tolerance screening test, between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, and that once gestational diabetes is diagnosed, the relevant therapeutic care should be administered immediately. The reason for this is that gestational diabetes has a major impact on the mother and child. The main risks of elevated blood sugar for the fetus are increased incidence of neonatal malformations, giant babies and neonatal hypoglycemia, and the tendency of pregnant women to become overweight and obese, which can also lead to difficult deliveries, miscarriages and the tendency of the child and mother to have blood sugar and lipid abnormalities. It is important to note that gestational diabetes is different from diabetic pregnancy. In addition, women with a family history of diabetes, a history of large babies, obesity and high blood glucose levels should be screened for diabetes at an earlier stage to exclude the condition from a safe pregnancy and delivery. In view of the increasing incidence of diabetes and the far-reaching effects of gestational diabetes on the mother and child, it is important that pregnant women not only undergo screening and treatment during pregnancy, but also undergo a glucose tolerance test six to eight weeks after delivery in order to detect abnormalities in blood glucose metabolism. Pregnant women and their children are at high risk for diabetes, so they should maintain a healthy lifestyle, maintain an appropriate weight, and have regular checkups, as well as long-term follow-up to prevent diabetes.