Essentials of Gestational Diabetes You Must Remember

There are many diabetes types that can occur to a person and one is common in pregnant women as gestational diabetes. This medical condition is just the same with other types where there is an increase of sugar levels in the blood. This condition can be short lived wherein normal blood glucose levels can return after delivery. But during the course of pregnancy, the condition must be managed in order to prevent any situations that can threaten the life of the mother as well as the baby.

Diabetes symptoms of this kind are not noticeable that is why as soon as you discover that you are pregnant, you must seek medical attention immediately. Your prenatal checkup especially during the last half of your pregnancy will tell whether you have increased glucose in the blood and you need further evaluation. Other specialists will examine you and they will be able to help you on how to manage your condition to prevent any complications as you carry the baby with you for nine months.

The causes of diabetes of this kind are not known exactly. But it can be due to the fact that the placenta that provides nutrition to the baby also produces hormones which block the effects of insulin in lowering blood sugar in the body. Once there is less insulin that helps deliver glucose to the cells for fuel, blood glucose will build up in the blood. With increased blood sugar levels, it can have a great effect on the baby.

There are certain risk factors that incline a woman to be more prone to gestational diabetes. First of all, women older than 25 and who got pregnant are more at risk to having this kind of diabetes. Moreover, those who have a family history of diabetes and those who are amazingly overweight are more likely to develop this medical condition. Lastly, the race of the woman is also a factor.

When this kind of diabetes is not managed, it can create complications that can affect the baby. First of all, it can produce a very large baby that can create troubles during delivery. Moreover, the baby has stored large amounts of insulin due to the response to the high glucose levels of the mother. However, once the baby is out the situation can be different. The increased levels of insulin can lead to hypoglycemia. It is even related to certain developmental problems.

Moreover, it can also affect your pregnancy state. You can be prone to preeclampsia due to increased blood pressure leading to seizures. Urinary tract infections are also common when you have gestational diabetes because the presence of glucose in urine is a good medium for the growth of microorganisms. Having this kind of condition also has a possibility that you will develop diabetes even if you are not pregnant.

That is why whenever you have this kind of condition when you are pregnant; make sure that you will follow accordingly what your obstetrician will tell you so that you will not experience any complications.