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Constant maternal hyperglycemia limits, while pulsatile maternal hyperglycemia may enhance, fetal glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in sheep. However, the impact of such different patterns of hyperglycemia on the development of the fetal β‐cell is unknown. We measured the impact of one week of chronic constant hyperglycemia (CHG, n = 6) versus pulsatile hyperglycemia (PHG, n = 5) versus controls (n = 7) on the percentage of the fetal pancreas staining for insulin (β‐cell area), mitotic and apoptotic indices and size of fetal β‐cells, and fetal insulin secretion in sheep. Baseline insulin concentrations were higher in CHG fetuses (P < 0.05) compared to controls and PHG. GSIS was lower in the CHG group (P < 0.005) compared to controls and PHG. PHG β‐cell area was increased 50% (P < 0.05) compared to controls and CHG. CHG β‐cell apoptosis was increased over 400% (P < 0.05) compared to …