Gestational Diabetes typically develops in the second trimester, when the body becomes more resistant to insulin due to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can cause complications for both the mother and the baby if not managed properly, but with proper care, most women with gestational diabetes are able to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
You are more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you:
- are overweight
- have already experienced gestational diabetes
- have delivered a child that weighs more than 9 pounds
- have a family member who has type 2 diabetes
- have prediabetes, which is a condition in which your blood glucose levels are elevated but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetic
- have polycystic ovarian syndrome, usually referred to as PCOS, a hormonal condition.
Effects of Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy
A pregnant woman with gestational diabetes may experience complications if her blood sugar is not properly managed:
An Extra-Large Infant
The baby has high blood sugar because of poorly managed diabetes. The infant "overeats" and grows to a huge size. An extra-large baby can make labor difficult for both the mother and the baby, in addition to making the mother uncomfortable during the last few months of pregnancy. In order to deliver the baby, the woman might require a C-Section. Due to pressure placed on the baby's shoulder during delivery, the child may be born with nerve damage.
Hypoglycemia: Low Blood Sugar
When taking insulin or other diabetic treatments, people with diabetes run the risk of having excessively low blood sugar. If untreated,, low blood sugar may be extraordinarily risky or even fatal. If women closely monitor their blood sugar levels and treat low blood sugar promptly, seriously low blood sugar can be prevented. If a woman's diabetes was poorly managed while she was pregnant, her infant may experience low blood sugar very shortly after birth.
Cesarean Section: C-Section
A C-section is a procedure when the baby is delivered through the mother's abdomen. Uncontrolled diabetes increases a woman's likelihood of needing a C-section to deliver the baby. The mother needs more time to recover when the baby is delivered via C-section.
Preeclampsia: High Blood Pressure
It's a significant issue that needs to be properly monitored and addressed by the doctor. It could result in the baby being born early and could also make the mother experience seizures or a stroke-a blood clot or bleed in the brain that can cause brain damage when she is giving birth. Women with diabetes are more likely than non-diabetic women to experience high blood pressure.
Detection Procedures
Throughout your pregnancy, your healthcare professional will check your blood sugar. A two-part test is possible:
Test for glucose: You sip a sugary beverage. You will have a blood test to determine your blood sugar level after roughly an hour. Your healthcare professional will do a glucose tolerance test if your blood sugar is high.
Oral glucose tolerance test: This test is only administered if the findings of your challenge test are atypical. Before the tolerance test, you must fast (go without food for eight hours). Your blood is taken before, one, two, and three hours after you consume a sugary beverage by your doctor. An accurate diagnosis of gestational diabetes can be made using the tolerance test.
Prevention and Management
By decreasing weight before becoming pregnant or exercising both before and during pregnancy, overweight but physically active women may be able to avoid gestational diabetes. You can get adequate exercise by engaging in moderate activity for about 30 minutes most days of the week and adding in quick bursts of activity all throughout the day. Always discuss the appropriate form of physical activity with your doctor.
Choose fiber-rich, calorie- and fat-free foods. Put an emphasis on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Aim for small, frequent meals and snacks every 3 to 4 hours while watching your portion amounts. Check your carbohydrate intake and always combine foods high in both carbohydrates and protein. Steer clear of sweet drinks.
To assist you in developing a diet plan, speak with your doctor and/or a trained dietitian. If you are already pregnant, don't strive to reduce weight; you need to acquire weight for the health of your unborn child. How much weight you should acquire for a safe pregnancy should be discussed with your doctor.
Insulin is the first choice of diabetes medicine for gestational diabetes, but long-term studies are needed.
Post Pregnancy
Type 2 diabetes is more likely to strike women who have already had gestational diabetes; in turn, type 2 diabetes is more likely to strike their offspring as well. Six weeks after giving birth, women with gestational diabetes should be screened for type 2. Every one to three years, they should be tested again, even if the results are negative.
By choosing healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in regular physical activity, you may be able to reduce your chances—and those of your child—of having these issues. Although gestational diabetes may be controlled, any pregnancy issue should be taken seriously because it can affect both you and your unborn child and make labor challenging.
###
