How Diabetes and Pregnancy Relate To Each Other
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
There are many factors that come into consideration when a woman falls pregnant. Blood pressure is often monitored, along with weight and any aches or pains that the woman might feel. There are more serious illnesses that can be side-effects of pregnancy, threatening both mom and child. Yearly, about four percent (approximately 140,000) of American women who get pregnant will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. GD occurs during the latter stages of a pregnancy and can be a rather daunting diagnosis for any expectant parent.
The cause of gestational diabetes is largely unknown, although there’s 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 big 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 mom, 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 weren’t exercising before you got pregnant, it would be unwise to begin 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.
If gestational diabetes is diagnosed during pregnancy, there is a great likelihood that it will go away once the baby is born. However, if a woman has gestational diabetes once, it is possible that she will have it again during future pregnancies. Some cases of type I and II diabetes are only discovered during pregnancies. In such cases, there will be the need for continued treatment even after giving birth.
To learn more go to Diabetes Center and at Juvenile Diabetes
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