Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. This article will look at gestational diabetes causes, symptoms, and more.
Gestational diabetes(GD) is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and affects the way your body produces insulin. It can cause you to develop high blood sugar levels and increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
The good news is that there are several things you can do to help prevent gestational diabetes from developing or worsening over time.
In this article, we’ll discuss what gestational diabetes is, why it’s so dangerous for pregnant women and their babies, how common it is throughout pregnancy, how to prevent it from happening again in the future, as well as what kinds of treatment options exist if this happens to you or someone close to you.
What Is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after the baby is born. It can happen at any moment during pregnancy, but it is more common in the second and third trimesters.
It occurs when your body is unable to produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, to meet the increasing demands of pregnancy.
It affects up to 10% of women and can be managed by diet and exercise.
Diabetes during pregnancy can cause health problems for both mother and baby, but if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you should follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to avoid these complications.
What Causes Diabetes in Pregnant Women?
Gestational diabetes is caused by problems with the way your body handles sugar. Your body can’t make the required amount of insulin to maintain the amount of sugar in your blood, which leads to high levels of glucose in your blood and urine.
Some women who have gestational diabetes have no symptoms at all. Others will experience mild symptoms like mild weight gain, frequent urination, and fatigue.
If these signs are severe enough or if you miss a period after becoming pregnant with gestational diabetes, you should see your doctor right away for treatment options such as insulin injections or diet changes that may help prevent developing type 2 diabetes later on down the road.
Obesity and being overweight are related to gestational diabetes. Insulin resistance may already exist in pregnant women who are obese or overweight. Overeating when pregnant may also be a factor.
Symptoms
Here are some of the symptoms of gestational diabetes you should look out for:
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Urinating more often than usual
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Feeling tired and/or fatigued, especially during the day (fatigue)
You may also have other symptoms that are unrelated to your blood sugar levels: bloating and water retention; weight gain of 10 pounds or more; irritability, mood swings, and moodiness; frequent urination.
Who Is at Risk for Gestational Diabetes?
Any woman can develop Gestational Diabetes(GD) during her pregnancy, but women with the below risk factors have a high chance of developing the symptoms:
- Overweight or Obese women.
- Your family has a history of diabetes.
- Women above 25 years of age are likely to develop GD.
- Prediabetic women
How does Gestational Diabetes affect the mother and baby?
During the first eight weeks of pregnancy, a baby’s organs, including the brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys begin to develop. High blood sugar levels can be dangerous at this early period and increase the likelihood that your baby will be born with birth problems including heart defects or brain or spine defects.
Additionally, having high blood sugar levels throughout pregnancy can raise the likelihood that your baby will be born prematurely, weigh too much, have breathing issues, or have low blood sugar immediately after birth.
High blood sugar levels can also make it more likely for you to miscarry or have a stillborn child. When a baby is stillborn, it dies in the womb during the second trimester of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is particularly dangerous for both mother and baby because it can cause life-threatening conditions like eclampsia (an epilepsy-like seizure) in addition to high blood pressure. Gestational hypertension has also been linked with an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirths.
While many women manage their condition well enough that there’s no need for treatment during pregnancy, others require medication or diet changes during their pregnancies. These changes can affect not only how much weight your baby gains but also how they look while they’re developing inside you!
How to Prevent Gestational Diabetes?
If you are overweight before becoming pregnant, decreasing weight and engaging in regular exercise may help you avoid gestational diabetes.
In a situation in which you are already expecting, avoid dieting. For your baby to be healthy, you’ll need to put on some weight gradually. How much weight you should acquire for a safe pregnancy should be discussed with your doctor.
Treatment Options for GD
Even though you have gestational diabetes, there are still treatment options available. Attend all of your prenatal checkups as scheduled and follow the below treatment options:
- Get your sugar levels checked regularly, and make sure they are in a normal range.
- Follow a healthy diet plan as recommended by your doctor.
- Be active and engage in regular physical activities such as brisk walking as it lowers your blood sugar level. But you must consult your doctor and start your physical activity. Based on your health condition your doctor will suggest you the necessary activities.
Conclusion
Gestational diabetes can create a lot of problems for the mother, however, it is not the end of the world. It may be frustrating and frustrating at times, but remember that there are ways to manage this condition and keep your baby safe too!
