Gestational diabetes
All pregnant women
will be tested for gestational diabetes at some point during their pregnancy.
Pregnant women older than 35, who are overweight, or who have a family history
of diabetes may be tested earlier and more frequently.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes
is a temporary (mostly) form of diabetes in which the body does not produce
enough insulin to regulate sugar levels during pregnancy. It can also be called
glucose intolerance or carbohydrate intolerance.
Signs and symptoms
may include:
- Sugar in urine (revealed in a test done in your doctor’s office)
- Unusual thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Frequent vaginal, bladder, and skin infections
- Blurred vision
Who gets gestational diabetes and why should I get tested?
Approximately 2-5% of
pregnant women develop gestational diabetes; this number could increase to 7-9%
of mothers who are more likely to have risk factors. Screening for this disease
is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
At this time, doctors
test for gestational diabetes because the placenta produces a large amount of
hormones that can cause insulin resistance. If the results show high levels,
additional tests will be done to confirm the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
What can I expect during the test?
During your prenatal
visit, your doctor will give you a sweet (but not necessarily tasty) liquid to
drink an hour before your blood test. This may make you feel slightly nauseous.
The results will show whether you are producing enough insulin or not.
If I have gestational diabetes, how will I be treated?
The main treatment
for gestational diabetes is to control blood sugar levels.
There are steps you
and your doctor can take to make sure you maintain healthy blood sugar levels:
- Close monitoring of you and your baby
- Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels
- Insulin therapy, if necessary
- Diet and exercise management
Is there anything I should be afraid of?
If gestational
diabetes is diagnosed and treated effectively, the risk of complications is
low. In such cases, women with gestational diabetes can give birth to healthy
children, and the diabetes should resolve after delivery.
However, if left
untreated, the effects on mother and baby may include:
- Large birth weight
- Premature delivery
- Increased chance of cesarean delivery
- Slightly increased risk of fetal and neonatal death
- It is also important that you watch for signs of diabetes after giving birth.
These symptoms
include:
- Frequent urination
- Persistent thirst
- Increased sugar in blood or urine
Tests may be done a few months after giving birth to make sure your blood sugar levels are back to normal. Also be aware that women with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing overt diabetes (type II) later in life. Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of type II diabetes.