One among the three types of diabetes is Gestational Diabetes. You all must have heard about Diabetes 1 and Diabetes 2, so it is time to familiarize yourself with the third type that commonly occurs in pregnant women. Around 3-10% of expectant mothers develop this condition, making it one of the most common health problems of pregnancy. With growing numbers of pregnant mothers developing this type of diabetes in the U.S every year, gestational diabetes is increasingly becoming a matter of concern.
During pregnancy your body needs additional insulin that is secreted by the pancreas. When the pancreas fails to meet the increased demand, blood glucose levels rise too high, resulting in the onset of this disease. In gestational diabetes, the actual problem lies with the placenta and not with the pancreas. Throughout pregnancy the placenta provides nourishment to the baby but also produces a number of hormones that impede with the body's natural response to insulin, which results in a condition referred to as "insulin resistance."
This form of diabetes can have serious affects on both the mother as well as the developing baby. It can result in birth defects such as abnormal neurological and physiological development patterns, hypoglycemia and jaundice along with a heightened rate of miscarriage. To complicate matters further, a mother's diabetes can lead to fetal over-nutrition resulting in larger birth weights. This increases risks during labor and delivery, often requiring a caesarean section.
Diabetes during pregnancy is a serious condition, but the risks to mothers and babies can be limited and managed in a better way with early screening for diabetes and immediate care through a specific diet plan, close blood sugar monitoring, and perhaps daily insulin injections. These could be achieved relatively easily, with advances in intensive obstetric monitoring and different types of insulin.
Gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms. That's why almost all pregnant women are recommended for a glucose-screening test between 24 and 28 weeks into their pregnancy. Usually women who are above 35 years of age, obese or overweight or with a family history of Type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Generally, gestational diabetes disappears post birth of a child. However, it can have long term as well as short-term consequences both for the mother as well as the child. It is your baby! And you need to take care of it. Besides regular monthly check-ups, eat healthy food, rich in essential nutrients and minerals and do some light exercise, to optimize your as well as your baby's health.
During pregnancy your body needs additional insulin that is secreted by the pancreas. When the pancreas fails to meet the increased demand, blood glucose levels rise too high, resulting in the onset of this disease. In gestational diabetes, the actual problem lies with the placenta and not with the pancreas. Throughout pregnancy the placenta provides nourishment to the baby but also produces a number of hormones that impede with the body's natural response to insulin, which results in a condition referred to as "insulin resistance."
This form of diabetes can have serious affects on both the mother as well as the developing baby. It can result in birth defects such as abnormal neurological and physiological development patterns, hypoglycemia and jaundice along with a heightened rate of miscarriage. To complicate matters further, a mother's diabetes can lead to fetal over-nutrition resulting in larger birth weights. This increases risks during labor and delivery, often requiring a caesarean section.
Diabetes during pregnancy is a serious condition, but the risks to mothers and babies can be limited and managed in a better way with early screening for diabetes and immediate care through a specific diet plan, close blood sugar monitoring, and perhaps daily insulin injections. These could be achieved relatively easily, with advances in intensive obstetric monitoring and different types of insulin.
Gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms. That's why almost all pregnant women are recommended for a glucose-screening test between 24 and 28 weeks into their pregnancy. Usually women who are above 35 years of age, obese or overweight or with a family history of Type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Generally, gestational diabetes disappears post birth of a child. However, it can have long term as well as short-term consequences both for the mother as well as the child. It is your baby! And you need to take care of it. Besides regular monthly check-ups, eat healthy food, rich in essential nutrients and minerals and do some light exercise, to optimize your as well as your baby's health.
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