Diabetes diagnosed for the first time in pregnant women is known as gestational diabetes. 3-8 women out of every 100 are diagnosed with this ailment during pregnancy in the United States. The hormone insulin is responsible for supplying the energy, from the food we eat, to the cells, in the form of glucose. Weight gain and hormonal changes are common during this state. However, the body may fail to meet the requirement of insulin due to these developments, causing this form of diabetes. This article tries to gain further insight on this topic.
Initially there are no symptoms. But as the disease progresses, the mother develops signs like excessive thirst and other milder symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Some of the risk factors of this disease are:
- Being over weight
- Being 25 years or above
- Having a family history of this disease
- Being African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander
- Being pre-diabetic
- Given birth to a baby more than 9 pounds
A simple blood test can reveal whether a mother is suffering from this ailment. If the blood glucose level is higher than 95 on fasting, above 180 after an hour of having food, above 155 after two hours and above 140 after three hours, it is confirmed that the patient suffers from gestational diabetes.
Some of the complications to the baby are breathing problems, low glucose in the blood, born with excess fat leading to delivery complications and high risk of developing type 2 diabetes for the entire life along with the mother. This disease goes away after the delivery of the baby. But it can return again if a woman becomes pregnant.
Treatment of Gestational Diabetes:
- Taking plain meal can keep the blood sugar in control. There can be two-three small meals and equal number of snacks every day.
- Carbohydrate foods should be replaced by fruits, vegetables, cereals, whole grains and bread.
- Physical exercises like walking and swimming are beneficial in keeping the glucose level in check.
- Severe cases can be treated by injecting insulin into the body artificially through pump devices, as it is not available in the form of pills.
