Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before, but who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, are said to have gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnancies, making it one of the top health concerns related to pregnancy.
What is the cause of gestational diabetes?
While no-one really knows the true cause, there are some contributing factors that might increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes. These factors include:
* Obesity in the woman
* A family history of diabetes
* Older maternal age (over the age of 30).
* Having had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
* A previous delivery of a large (greater than 9 pounds) baby .
What are the risks of gestational diabetes?
High sugar levels in your blood can be unhealthy for both you and your baby.
If a woman had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes have a greater change of developing diabetes, but there is also some other risks involved, such as macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth, or a higher risk for breathing problems.
Treating gestational diabetes
In most cases, gestational diabetes is managed by diet and exercise, and goes away after the baby is born. But because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, it is important to start treatment quickly. You should consult your doctor for special meal plans and scheduled physical activity.
There is no need to panic
While gestational diabetes is a cause for concern, the good news with the correct diet and exercise, you can keep your blood glucose levels under control, and give a healthy start for your baby.
A disease in which the body cannot convert food into energy because of a
lack of insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas), or because of an
inability to use insulin. Diabetes is a serious condition that can cause
complications ranging from numbness to loss of vision to coma. It also
significantly raises the risk for other problems, such as stroke and heart
disease. About 17 million Americans have diabetes.
A hereditary or developmental problem with sugar metabolism. Caused by a
failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin. Juvenile diabetes, or
type 1 diabetes, is treated with diet, exercise and insulin. Type 2,
formerly called adult onset, is now seen in overweight children. It is
treated with diet, exercise and medication. In severe cases, type 2 diabetes
is also treated with insulin.
A chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of glucose
(sugar) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as
insulin-dependent (type I) and non-insulin dependent (type II). Type I
diabetes results from a lack of adequate insulin secretion by the pancreas.
Type II diabetes (also known as adult-onset diabetes) is characterized by an
insensitivity of the tissues of the body to insulin secreted by the pancreas
(insulin resistance).
Home
> Diabetes
