Diabetes and Pregnancy – How Does One Effect The Other?
Diabetes that affects pregnant women is referred to as gestational diabetes, or GD. This type of diabetes normally occurs in the late stages of pregnancy, starting in the twenty-fourth to twenty-eighth week of pregnancy. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes is a scary prospect for many expectant mothers, but sadly, it is a reality that soon-to-be parents face daily. Reports indicate that in the USA alone, approximately 140,000 women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes annually.
The cause of gestational diabetes is largely unknown, although there is some link to pregnancy hormones and the placenta. If your body is unable to make or use all the insulin it needs, glucose remaining in the blood eventually reaches abnormally high levels.
Unlike other health problems, gestational diabetes does not normally result in birth defects; however, it can have repercussions for the baby. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes tend to be large and this can lead to injuries to the child’s shoulders during the normal birthing process. The babies can have jaundice, low glucose levels and higher insulin levels than is the norm, as well as breathing problems. It is also believed that babies born with high insulin levels are at a higher risk for obesity.
Gestational diabetes can also cause problems for the mother, as delivering a larger-than-normal baby can be difficult and, in many instances, results in a caesarian section. In addition, gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing type II diabetes later on in life.
As with any other type of diabetes, controlling the gestational type is possible with diet, exercise, and medication. With this type of diabetes, treatment is normally started as soon as it is known that the mother-to-be has GD. Diet plans are normally given to the expectant mother so that she can help control her blood sugar level. Foods from all the food groups should be eaten for a well-balanced diet, with greater portions of vegetables and whole grains.
Moderate exercise is also recommended to help control gestational diabetes, although previous levels of physical activity have to be taken into account. Physical activity helps the body use up the excess glucose without the need for extra insulin. If you were not exercising before you got pregnant, it would be unwise to start any strenuous exercise at this stage of your pregnancy.
It is also important to monitor your sugar level closely. Set up a routine so that you know when to test your glucose level.
The good news about gestational diabetes is that it normally disappears a few weeks after you have given birth. However, in some cases, type I or type II diabetes is discovered during pregnancy. In these cases, treatment will have to be continued for life. It is important to know that in some cases, if an expectant mother has gestational diabetes, she will likely have it again during subsequent pregnancies.
To learn more go to Diabetes Diagnosis and at Gestational Diabetes Diet
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