Information On Gestational Diabetes In Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood glucose levels that are diagnosed during pregnancy. It is the result of some hormonal changes that occur in all women during pregnancy. Increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta interfere with the ability of insulin to manage glucose. This condition is known as “insulin resistance”.

If the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the effect of increased hormones during pregnancy, the level of sugar rises, resulting in gestational diabetes.

This form of diabetes is diagnosed usually between 24th and the 28th week of pregnancy, when insulin resistance begins. A test may also be performed to see if the woman is predisposed to developing diabetes.

Gestational diabetes can be controlled in various ways:

By monitoring the blood sugar levels
Following specific diet guidelines as instructed by the doctor
Exercising
Monitoring weight gain
Taking insulin to lower blood sugar level

Birth defects are not a common complication of gestational diabetes. Labor and delivery are also not generally affected by this form of diabetes, if controlled. However, there is a risk of the baby growing too large. Careful control of blood sugar levels remains important during labor so the baby does not develop high insulin levels as a result of the high blood sugar level in the mother. This can result in the baby’s blood sugar dropping very low after birth, since it did not receive adequate sugar in the blood from the mother. In such situations a glucose solution is administered to the newborn.

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Information On Gestational Diabetes In Pregnancy