Introduction
Gestational diabetes is the other type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and occurs due to the manner in which the body cells process glucose. It also results in high blood sugar levels which have damaging effects to both the mother and the baby. Knowledge about the occurrence of GDM, its prevention and correct management strategy is vital in order to have a problem free pregnancy period.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
Still, gestational diabetes is one of them, where a woman’s body can’t cope with producing enough insulin while she is pregnant. Insulin on the other hand is a chemical or hormone that plays a key role in transporting glucose to the muscles and selling it to the cells as fuel and also in controlling blood glucose levels. The placenta which forms during pregnancy releases chemicals that can make your cells insensitive to insulin. If the pancreas cannot secrete enough Insulin to meet the needs of the body due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy, then the body develops Gestational diabetes.
Some factors that can increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes include:
- Characteristics like being overweight or obese before getting pregnant
- History of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
- Suffering from high blood pressure and or any other medical factors.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Do not see symptoms of gestational diabetes GDM, therefore, it is essential to visit the doctor for frequent prenatal appointments. However, some women may experience:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Glycosuria (discovered in urine examinations that are commonly conducted during check-up or examination).
Most of these symptoms are the same as the normal pregnancy symptoms and thus tend to go unnoticed unless the right medical check is done for gestational diabetes.
How is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?
Screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes usually takes place around the second trimester of pregnancy, although it’s best if it happens between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you ought to have had one, your doctor will conduct a glucose checking test to ascertain high blood sugar levels. If the screening test reveals that the levels of glucose are above the normal range, a more detailed test known as the glucose tolerance test will be conducted.
During the glucose tolerance test:
- Fasting will be required of you and this will involve keeping off food the night before the blood tests.
- An assessment of your fasting blood sugar will be done.
- After that, you will take some water together with some sugar added to it.
- They will be checked from time to time for the next few hours to determine your blood sugar level.
You will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes if your normal blood sugar levels are above a certain point two or more times during the test.
The Bottom Line
This paper will seek to explain about Gestational Diabetes in order to promote its management. In this forum, you will understand causes of pregnancy complications, identify signs that may suggest pregnancy complications, and learn how to get a correct diagnosis for appropriate management. The health of mother and baby can be enhanced through taking a balanced diet, screening tests as well as practice of other healthy lifestyles even after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
