Gestational Diabetes: All You Need to Know

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Pregnancy should be a time for celebration. After all, you are bringing new life into the world and that is always a reason to celebrate.

However, pregnancy comes with a lot of potential complications that a woman needs to watch out for, one of them being gestational diabetes. Find out more about the condition and how to avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy. 

Gestational Diabetes Normally Occurs in the Second or Third Trimester

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that is diagnosed during a woman’s pregnancy. It normally occurs in the second or third trimester. This affects how the cells use glucose or sugar, and causes high blood sugar. This can also affect the growing baby’s health. 

Though a serious condition that needs medical guidance, gestational diabetes can be managed. You should not worry too much if you get diagnosed with this condition.

If you follow the doctor’s orders, you and your baby can remain healthy, and you should be able to have a normal pregnancy. But it is important that you learn how to avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy to ensure that you and your baby are safe. 

The other good news is that for most women, the blood sugar level usually returns to normal after you give birth. You may just need to monitor your blood sugar more closely as you are now more prone to getting Type 2 Diabetes.

Causes of Gestational Diabetes

One of the causes of gestational diabetes is the lack of insulin, which is needed by your body during pregnancy. When your body lacks insulin, your body is not able to turn the glucose in your body into energy. This pushes your blood sugar level to rise, which causes gestational diabetes. 

Another reason why pregnant women are prone to diabetes is due to insulin resistance. During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that help the baby grow; however, these hormones also block the action of insulin, that’s why pregnant women need 2 to 3 times more insulin.

Moreover, the placenta also releases hormones that cause sugar to build up in the blood. If the body cannot make enough insulin, then there would be increased blood glucose.  

To avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy, be mindful of the following: 

• Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating too much sweets 
• Activities that may raise blood pressure 

Though there are other risk factors that you cannot control, you can successfully avoid or manage your gestational diabetes to ensure a safe pregnancy. Consult your doctor on the best management plan. 

You can discuss with your doctor how to avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy. Those who have a higher probability of developing gestational diabetes are the following. 

• Has a family member who has diabetes
• Has a body mass index of over 30 
• Is of Asian, Black, African-Caribbean, or Middle Eastern descent
• Has given birth to a large baby in previous pregnancy (baby weighed more than 9 lbs)
• Has had gestational diabetes in previous pregnancy

When these risk factors are present, your chances of having gestational diabetes during pregnancy increases. 

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women often overlook the symptoms of gestational diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes don’t usually have symptoms, or they may attribute the symptoms to their pregnancy. Most women only find out that they have  gestational diabetes during a routine screening.

This is why expectant mothers are always tested for gestational diabetes. They are normally tested when they are in their 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. But even when a woman is just planning to conceive, it is advised that she read up on how to avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy.

Common Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

When a mother has gestational diabetes, she may feel hungrier than usual. This will lead her to eat more. She may also feel an unusual thirst or dry mouth, and will pee more often than normal. She may also experience nausea, blurred vision, snoring, and fatigue. 

Diagnosis

If you are over 35 years of age by the time you are pregnant, overweight, or have a family history of diabetes, your doctor may opt to screen for gestational diabetes on your initial visit. This is to ensure that you and the baby are healthy. This is also one of the ways on how to avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy.

If you’re at average risk of gestational diabetes, you’ll likely have a screening test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Routine screening for gestational diabetes

There are a number of different screening tests depending on your healthcare provider. These include:

• Initial glucose challenge test

In this test, you’ll drink a syrupy glucose solution. One hour later, you’ll have a blood test to measure your blood sugar level. A blood sugar level of 190 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 10.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) indicates gestational diabetes.

• Follow-up glucose tolerance testing 

This test is similar to the initial test, but this time the sweet solution will have even more sugar. Your blood sugar will be checked every hour for three hours. If at least two of the blood sugar readings are higher than expected, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

How to Avoid Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy

There are different ways to handle gestational diabetes while pregnant. One of the more important matters is to get enough nutrition for both you and your baby. There are many resources online that offer the best meals plans for mothers who are addressing gestational diabetes. 

Lifestyle Changes to Avoid Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy

Another means on how to avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy is to exercise regularly. This is highly recommended as this will help keep the blood sugar under control. Exercise lowers your blood sugar, and what’s more, it can help relieve some common discomforts experienced during pregnancy. With your doctor’s approval, aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week.

If you have gestational diabetes, you may also need to monitor your blood sugar. And if needed, you may be advised by your doctor to take insulin. If your condition is on the riskier side, your doctor may prescribe other medication for you and your baby.

Though gestational diabetes normally disappears after you give birth, sometimes, it can be persistent or develop into Type 2 Diabetes. Schedule a visit to your doctor to monitor your health. 

What are the Effects of Gestational Diabetes? 

If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes in pregnancy, there will be possible effects on the baby and your pregnancy. 

Your baby may be at increased risk of:

• Excessive birth weight. The baby may grow larger than normal, which may mean you have to undergo induced labor or deliver your baby via cesarean section.
• Early (preterm) birth. You may also have a premature birth, which normally occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy. High blood sugar may increase a woman’s risk of early labor. Or doctors may recommend an early delivery because the baby is large.
• Serious breathing difficulties. Babies born early to mothers with gestational diabetes may experience respiratory distress syndrome.
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Sometimes babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) shortly after birth. In severe cases, this may cause seizures in the baby. Prompt feedings or an intravenous glucose solution may be required to bring the baby’s blood sugar level back to normal.
• Obesity and type 2 diabetes. Babies of mothers who have gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
• Stillbirth. Untreated gestational diabetes can result in a baby’s death either before or shortly after birth.

Women with gestational diabetes may also develop polyhydramnios, which is a condition where there is too much amniotic fluid in the womb, or pre-eclampsia, a condition wherein your blood pressure is elevated. This may lead to high blood pressure. All of these are not good for your pregnancy

Another potential complication is jaundice in babies. Some babies develop low blood sugar or yellowing of the skin after being born, which may need treatment in the hospital.

Key Takeaways

If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you can still enjoy the pregnancy. You may just need to be a little more mindful of what you eat and what you do.

Follow the general rules and tips on how to avoid gestational diabetes in pregnancy, and always consult your doctor. By following the advice, you can enjoy a safe and normal pregnancy.