When you’re pregnant, you worry about every little detail. Knowing that the life inside you depends on you for, well, everything, makes anything that is “wrong” with you all the more alarming. The next few months are excellent preparation for the rest of your life when you will always worry about your babies (no matter how old they are). Getting gestational diabetes once is alarming. When you find out you have it a second, or third, time with subsequent pregnancies, it can be an even greater cause for concern. But don’t stress over it, yet. Having been through it before gives you a good idea of what is ahead for you.

First, the facts. Gestational diabetes has a 30-60 percent likelihood of recurring in future pregnancies. In fact, having had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy is one of the risk factors for gestational diabetes. Other contributing factors include obesity, gaining too much weight during pregnancy, and genetics also play a role in the development of gestational diabetes. While the condition is cause for concern, it is not a reason to panic, even when it keeps returning.

The key is to follow the protocol your doctor recommends, monitor your blood sugar consistently, and reduce unnecessary stress and worry as these things can cause your blood sugar levels to spike. You’ve been through it before. Use what you learned in the past to make it even easier to manage this time around.