Gestational Diabetes
Pregnancy is a very delicate time for women. It seems an expectant mother also has to worry about checking her diabetes blood sugar level. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs in some pregnant women. It is estimated that at least 4% of pregnant women in America have the condition. This may seem like a small figure but the actual numbers may be more. Pregnancy is a period of heightened concern for a lot of pregnant women than 100,000.
This condition usually hit pregnant women during their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Women who have family members with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of getting it. In general though, women who have had no diabetes themselves may develop high blood sugar levels.
Its Causes
Until now, experts are still not sure on why a pregnant woman can get high blood sugar levels. There is some evidence though that the hormones at play during pregnancy may have a role in increasing the chances of this disorder in expectant mothers.
The placenta which nourishes the baby while in the mother's womb produces hormones that hamper the work of insulin in the mother's cells. This is the reason why the condition may be detected only in the later stages of pregnancy since the advanced stage also means having more placenta.
Once the function of insulin is affected, glucose will begin to accumulate in the blood. Just like type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance.
Effects
The condition usually occurs only during pregnancy. However, having it once increases the chances of having it again in succeeding pregnancies. There have also been cases of women eventually developing type 2 diabetes. There is a possibility that a developing diabetes condition will only be made obvious during pregnancy.
It is important that gestational diabetes be treated at once since this may have bad effects on the unborn child. The excess glucose in the mother's system may find its way into the baby thereby increasing the baby's glucose supplies. Glucose may be stored in the baby's body and manifest itself as fat, resulting in a fat baby.
The baby's pancreas may also try to increase its production of insulin. Too much insulin may mean that the baby could be born with hypoglycemia and breathing complications. There will also be long term effects on the baby. Untreated gestational diabetes in a pregnant woman could increase the baby's chances of later becoming overweight or developing diabetes as an adult.
The Treatment
In order to discover whether you have the gestational diabetes regular check ups during pregnancy are crucial. Once diagnosed, a pregnant woman may simply be asked to maintain a meal and exercise plan to keep glucose levels normal.
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