Final answer:
The statement is false; poorly controlled gestational diabetes can lead to the fetus receiving too much glucose, causing excessive growth, not low birth weight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, 'If gestational diabetes is not well controlled, the fetus may not receive enough glucose and is at high risk for low birth weight,' is false. When a mother has uncontrolled gestational diabetes, her high blood glucose levels can lead to the fetus receiving too much glucose. The pancreas of the fetus then produces extra insulin to handle the excess glucose, which can cause the fetus to grow larger than normal, increasing the risk for a condition called macrosomia, not low birth weight. Macrosomia can pose various health issues for both the mother and baby during delivery and can also lead to the baby being overweight and having a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Therefore, poorly controlled gestational diabetes does not result in inadequate glucose transfer to the fetus, but rather, it can lead to excessive fetal growth.