Diet Samples
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes developed in women during pregnancy. Approximately 2 to 7 percent of expectant mothers develop this condition and is one of the most common health problems experienced during pregnancy.
Pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes when glucose levels in the blood reach high levels. When you eat, your digestive system breaks down most of the food into glucose, a type of sugar, which enters your bloodstream. With the help of insulin, it provides fuel to the cells in your body. When you have gestational diabetes, it is quite similar to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes when not pregnant. The glucose stays in the blood instead of being transported into your cells to be converted into energy.
During pregnancy, your pregnancy-related hormones make it tougher for the body to use insulin, thus placing more pressure on the pancreas to produce insulin. There is a conflict with the hormones produced by the placenta that helps the baby develop but blocks the way a mother’s insulin works on her body. Why is that so? It’s to make sure the baby receives enough insulin thus making it harder for the mother’s body to produce more for herself.
For many pregnant women, this isn’t an issue, but for some the pancreas cannot keep up with the insulin demand. The result is gestational diabetes. Most women diagnosed with gestational diabetes will no longer have the condition after the birth of the baby. Although, once you have had it, you will be at higher risk for gestational diabetes in future pregnancies and will have a higher risk of becoming diabetic later in life.
During the 2nd trimester gestational diabetes is seen to develop in some women and may not result in any symptoms. Thus, it is very important to participate in testing during this time period to determine if your sugar level is too high. If sugar is found, then a second test is usually performed to gain a more accurate result over a 3 hour period, in which blood and urine are taken for further testing. If the results show that the amount of sugar is still high, then you should take necessary steps to lower your blood sugar.
It’s a good idea to talk with your midwife or doctor to map out a meal plan to reduce sugary foods and drinks consumed. Having regular snacks instead of large meals will aid in lowering sugar levels in conjunction with an exercise program to keep it in check. Although, there are situations in which a healthy diet and exercise alone will not take care of gestational diabetes and insulin is then prescribed.
All mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes will be closely watched to make sure the baby doesn’t grow too large as this may cause difficulties during delivery and increase the chances for a cesarean (c-section).
After the baby is delivered, the mother will have another glucose tolerance test to check to see if blood glucose levels have returned within normal levels.
See More About: Causes Symptoms Blood Glucose Levels Glucose Tolerance Test
Related Information on Gestational Diabetes:
Tags: blood glucose levels, causes, glucose tolerance test, Symptoms
