Gestational diabetes can develop during a woman’s pregnancy, even if the woman did not have diabetes before she became pregnant. This condition happens when your body does not make enough of the insulin hormone after you become pregnant. Early detection and management of gestational diabetes are critical during pregnancy in order to prevent problems with birth defects and premature birth of the foetus.
Just as in other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells utilise glucose. This means that you might have trouble controlling your blood sugar levels, which can impact the health of your baby.
Gestational diabetes does not often display many symptoms. This can make it easy for this condition to be overlooked until complications arise with the health of the foetus. Increased thirst can be a symptom of this condition, along with frequent urination.
Gestational diabetes usually happens because the hormones that are produced by your body during pregnancy cause an imbalance. During pregnancy, as your body goes through changes like weight gain and increased hormone production, your pancreas might not react to the demands of your changing body. This can lead to your body using insulin less effectively, which can lead to gestational diabetes.
Risk factors for gestational diabetes are:
Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made using a couple of different tests:
This test requires that you drink a glucose solution. One hour later, a blood test is done to measure your blood sugar levels. A blood sugar level that is higher than 190 milligrams per decilitre indicates that you have gestational diabetes. If you have a blood sugar level that is lower than 140 mg/dl, you will be considered within the normal range for blood sugar during pregnancy.
This testing process is done in a similar way to the Initial Glucose Challenge Test, but the syrupy solution you drink will have more sugar in it. Your blood sugar will be checked every hour for three hours during this test. If at least two of the blood sugar readings are higher than they should be, your doctor will have confirmed that you have gestational diabetes.
Treatment is done through some combined changes to routine and through the use of medication. You will be asked to ensure that you are eating a healthy diet and that you are staying active. You will also need to test your blood sugar to make sure that it is within an optimal range every day. Some women will need to have their blood sugar levels managed with insulin.
Many pregnant women with gestational diabetes are able to control their condition with diet and lifestyle changes, but you might be given oral insulin to take to ensure that your blood sugar stays within the optimal range throughout your pregnancy.