Babies born to mothers who have been diagnosed with Gestational diabetes have long been known to be a high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
According to research published in PLoS One in April 2013, the beginnings of Type 2 diabetes could be starting even earlier than was previously suspected.
Investigators at Nanjing Medical University and Changzhou Women and Children's Hospital in China looked at:

• 65 women with Gestational diabetes, and
• 83 healthy pregnant women.
  

It was found the fetuses of mothers with Gestational diabetes were already beginning to show insulin resistance, which was not seen in fetuses of healthy mothers.
Insulin resistance was highest in fetuses whose mothers also had the highest insulin resistance.
Both Gestational diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are caused by resistance to insulin.
Insulin resistance is associated with:

• family history,
• obesity, and
• a sedentary lifestyle.
  

Fortunately two of the factors are alterable.
Before conception, women need to normalize their weight and get plenty of exercise.
The best way to maintain a normal weight is through:

• nutritious, low-calorie, high fiber foods, and
• a regular program of physical activity.
  

Nutritious natural foods provide the raw material needed for a healthy body and to help stop food cravings.
High fiber foods without processed sugars, help to keep your blood sugar levels low.
When blood sugar levels are low, insulin levels also stay low.
Insulin helps turn carbohydrates to fat, so it is better to stay with the lowest insulin level necessary.
Getting plenty of exercise helps to burn calories and lower insulin resistance.
Working muscles grow larger and so does their ability to burn calories.
Muscles at rest use up more calories than fat at rest, so the more muscle tissue the better.
In general, pregnant women can get as much physical activity during pregnancy as they tolerated before conception, but it is best to check with the attending obstetrician as to how much exercise is okay:

• getting overheated can overheat the baby, and getting out of breath will deprive the baby of oxygen.
  
• pregnant women can lose their sense of balance and need to be careful not to fall.
  
• abdominal pain or bleeding are reasons to stop activity and call the doctor.
  

Following a careful plan for maintaining a normal body mass index, and exercising on a regular basis, can help your fetus get off to a good start in life.
It's also a great path to good health for the pregnant mother.