Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, and it is usually during the second or third trimester. It occurs when your body can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar levels in check during pregnancy.
When a lady gets pregnant, the placenta produces hormones that help the baby grow. However, these hormones can also block insulin production which leads to insulin resistance. Therefore, her body may not be able to effectively use insulin, which ends up causing blood sugar levels to rise.
This is dangerous and can lead to complications for both the mother and baby if it’s not managed properly.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Some pregnant women won’t show any noticeable signs and symptoms, even while living with it. However, some common things happen when you have this condition:
- Peeing more than usual
- Always being thirsty which makes you drink more water
- Eating a lot of food; more than necessary
- Blurred vision
- Frequent infections
What if you don’t show symptoms?
It can be scary knowing that you could be living with gestational diabetes without showing any symptoms. However, there are still some ways you can discover it, even if there aren’t noticeable signs. Regular visits to a healthcare provider for screening for gestational diabetes are non-negotiable. It should be routinely done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
The screening test is called the Glucose Challenge Test (GTC). It has a few steps for the mother to follow to undergo the screening process:
1 . The mother drinks a sweet, sugary beverage that has glucose.
2 . Then after an hour, the doctor checks her blood sugar.
3 . If her blood sugar level is high, a follow-up test called the Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) will be administered.
The GTT test goes like this:
1 . The person fasts overnight
2 . Drink a glucose solution
3 . Their blood sugar levels are checked 1, 2, and sometimes 3 hours after consumption.
If the results show high blood sugar levels, then gestational diabetes is diagnosed. So even if you don’t have noticeable symptoms, the screening test can detect the condition.
Risk factors
There are risk factors to consider when it comes to gestational diabetes such as:
1 . Family history of gestational diabetes
A common risk factor is genetic predisposition. In which a family member with a history of it could mean you will develop it as well. If peradventure your mother or any of your older siblings have a history of it, you could as well. Therefore, you must consider this and take necessary precautions before you have a child.
2 . Elevated BMI
BMI, also known as body mass index should not exceed the recommended level, as it could cause health problems. The more you weigh, the higher the chance of developing it. Therefore shedding some weight if you carry it in excess, can go a long way in reducing your risk.
3 . Ethnicity
Africans, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans may be at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes. Your race can play a role in increasing your risk of developing this condition, so ensure you regularly check yourself.
4 . Age
It has been discovered that the older a person gets the higher the likelihood of developing this condition. According to the Center for Disease Control, being over 25 years old can increase your chances of developing it.
5 . Previous history of gestational diabetes
If you have had the condition during a previous pregnancy, your chances of having it again may be higher.
6 . Sedentary lifestyle
Extreme inactivity during pregnancy is not a good idea, even for non-pregnant people. It’s okay to rest during pregnancy as it is required, but doing nothing during your pregnancy isn’t required as well. Don’t always sit down and have everyone do everything for you. It’s advised that you maintain some form of physical fitness because too much inactivity can expose you to the condition.
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7 . Pre-diabetes
If you are pre-diabetic, you stand a higher chance of developing it, if you’re already turning towards diabetes.
8 . Having PCOS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome commonly known as PCOS, increases your risk of gestational diabetes.
9 . Having babies with birth weight over 4kg and above
If you have given birth to a baby who weighs over 9 pounds can increase your chances. Babies who weigh over 9 pounds are called macrocomic babies. So, if you have a history of having very very large babies, you stand a higher risk of developing it.
Will you have gestational diabetes even after putting to bed?
Gestational diabetes usually goes away after you’ve been put to bed, so it doesn’t stay even after pregnancy. But if you have a history of it, the likelihood of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is high. The baby is also more likely to have a very high weight as a child or teen and to develop type 2 diabetes when they’re older.
Complications
With gestational diabetes, you stand two times the risk of birth injury during delivery due to giving birth to a very large baby. As the mother, you also stand the risk of cesarean section and more times the risk of having your baby admitted to the neonatal ICU. Additionally, the mother may face complications such as future type 2 diabetes, and pre-eclampsia.
What could happen to your baby?
- Higher risk of premature babies
- Fetal macrosomia
- Severe respiratory problems
- Hypoglycemia immediacy after birth
- Stands a chance of excess weight, and type 2 diabetes in the future
- Stillbirth
Treatment and management of gestational diabetes
There isn’t a one size fits all solution, if you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your doctor will inform you of the best treatment options for you. Some might require you to take medication, and some may not. However, it is commonly recommended to increase your physical activity, eat a healthy diet, and lose weight if you have excess weight. Additionally, managing your stress levels is essential, and activities like yoga or meditation can help. Getting your blood sugar levels checked regularly to ensure they are within a reasonable range is vital.
The main points
The hormonal changes produced by the placenta, and weight the mother gains during pregnancy can affect how insulin works in her body, which leads to high blood sugar levels. This is dangerous and can lead to complications for both the mother and baby if it’s not managed properly.
Common symptoms include frequent peeing, eating all the time; extreme hunger, frequent infections, and excessive thirst. Many ladies may not show any noticeable symptoms, but regular screening can help detect any issue. A person is more likely to have gestational diabetes if they’re pre-diabetic, have had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy, certain races such as African American, African, Asian American, Hispanic, have PCOS, family history of type 2 diabetes, and have gestational diabetes.
Lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and exercise can reduce your risk of developing it. Mother and baby are liable to face severe complications during, and after birth due to the condition. Gestational diabetes doesn’t stay after birth, it usually goes away once the baby is born.
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