Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is different from diabetes that existed before a pregnancy which is commonly called pre-existing diabetes.
About four percent of all pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. The cause of gestational diabetes is not completely understood, but it may have to do with hormones that help the baby develop but have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the mother's natural insulin in her body.
Since gestational diabetes occurs late in a pregnancy, it does not pose a risk of birth defects. The baby can be affected by increasing the baby's body mass which makes the baby susceptible to injury during birth.
Newborns of mothers who had gestational diabetes are prone to breathing problems. The newborns may also have very low blood glucose levels at birth and be susceptible to obesity and type II diabetes later in life.
Blood tests are done to check for gestational diabetes. A blood sample may be drawn at the beginning of the test. The pregnant woman is required to drink a glucose solution and have at least one more blood test after time has passed.
A diabetic diet is used to treat gestational diabetes. The obstetrician is likely to have the pregnant woman with gestational diabetes meet with a dietitian who will design a diabetic diet.
The diabetic diet typically includes three meals and two snacks each day. The diet usually specifies how many servings of each food group should be eaten with each meal and snack. The dietician may provide a food exchange list that includes suggestions and serving sizes for each food group.
Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are required to check their blood sugar levels multiple times during the day. If the gestational diabetes is not well controlled with diet, the pregnant woman may have to take insulin injections.
It is not common for a woman or newborn to have diabetes immediately after birth. Women who have had gestational diabetes may be at increased risk of developing type II diabetes. With proper management, the effects of gestational diabetes on the mother and baby can be minimal.