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Article Series: Pregnancy
Pregnancy: Everything You Need To Know
Gestational
Diabetes:
What is it and What are the Signs?
It is said that a women who has never had
a problem with her blood sugar before but does while pregnant
has gestational diabetes. It affects a whole 4% of
all pregnant women and many of them had no clue it could happen to them
or have a previous history. The entire cause of this condition
is unknown and why it attacks some and not all is unknown as
well. Some believe it could be caused by placental hormones
blocking the mother’s insulin from being useful and aiding
the sugar into the cells. This type of insulin resistance can
lead the mother’s body to produce too much insulin, but not
be able to use it. Gestational diabetes is a result of this
where the sugar builds up in the blood stream and doesn’t enter
the body cells to be used as energy. It causes the mother to
become hyperglycemic and puts her and her baby at risk. If
untreated and not controlled the mother could go into a coma,
premature labor, or even die depending on the severity.
Normally gestational diabetes strikes later in pregnancy: around
the 28th week or so. The baby has already been completely
formed and is now in the growing and fat storage phase of development.
The risk of birth defects is almost none because of this. This
affects the baby by getting extra sugar through the placenta
when the diabetes is not controlled appropriately. This causes
the baby to get a high blood sugar content and start laying
down more fat. This has many possible complications including
being too large to be born vaginally, getting stuck in the
vagina, shoulder injuries, low sugar levels after birth that
require treatment, and possible breathing problems. Making
sure that this illness is kept under complete control and you
follow your doctor’s orders is very important.
Most
treatment plans for gestational diabetes are easy to follow. It usually means following a special meal plan, getting
exercise, and testing your blood sugar with a finger stick.
If diet isn’t enough, then insulin injections might be necessary.
You would do a blood stick 2 to 3 times per day or after meals
to see if your sugar is too high and then give your self a
shot to stabilize it. Your doctor or nurse will teach you how
and where to do the shots if need be. Staying on top of your
treatment will help prevent you from needing a cesarean section
due to too large of a baby. It can also reduce the risks of
any complicating health issues for the baby and you. Most times
the gestational diabetes goes away shortly after birth. Once
you have had one pregnancy with gestational diabetes you are
at higher risk of developing it again with future pregnancies.
There are some women however that pregnancy uncovers type I
or II diabetes, and can go on to develop type II in the future.
Both gestational and type II diabetics tend to be able to control
their sugar simply through diet, and only need insulin on rare
occasions. There are ways to lower your risk of diabetes that
only need a few basic lifestyle changes.
- Lose weight, losing even a few pounds can help you avoid
developing type 2 diabetes
- Make
healthy food choices, limiting fat intake to 30% or less
of daily calories, and watching your portion size
- Exercise
regularly, this allows your body to use sugar without extra
insulin
A glucose test is usually performed between 24-28-weeks, which
will tell your doctor if you have this, or at risk. While you
might be nervous about the effects it could have on you and
your baby, know that this is highly manageable. Your medical
team will put together a special plan for you to ensure you
have a happy healthy pregnancy and baby. Many women don’t even
know they are risks, or have gestational diabetes because there
usually are no symptoms. If you notice any of the following
please call you doctor and schedule a visit.
SYMPTOMS:
- Increased
thirst
- Increased
urination
- Weight
loss in spite of increased appetite
- Fatigue
- Nausea
and vomiting
- Frequent
infections including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
- Blurred
vision
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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