“Nearly one in four pregnant women in India has Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and its prevalence is also high”.
Pregnancy is one of the beautiful and overwhelming journeys for every woman. The body adapts to changes by growing and nurturing, but sometimes, unexpected challenges start to appear. Gestational diabetes is a condition that lowers the odds of blood sugar fluctuation. But it does not mean that every pregnant woman can be impacted by gestational diabetes. Around 2% to 14% of pregnant women are impacted by this, and through potential safety concerns and monitoring, it is easy to manage.
So, before justifying anything, it is best to go through this article to get accurate information.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is one that usually develops in pregnant women who did not have diabetes previously. It does not matter whether the mother has diabetes before pregnancy or not; hormonal changes and their interference with the mother’s insulin can cause this issue. Hormones produced by the placenta cause insulin resistance, which means that glucose does not enter cells through the blood. On the other hand, the body makes efforts to overcome this condition and makes insulin. However, when the body fails to deal with this situation, the level of sugar in the blood will increase.
It is important to note that gestational diabetes can be treated effectively in most cases because the disease can be controlled using diet, physical exercise, and controlling the level of sugar in the blood. However, medication will be used if there is failure to treat gestational diabetes through diet and physical activities.
When does Gestational Diabetes Happen?
During the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is conducted through a screening test. However, the test might be done before this period because of various risk factors, including high body weight before pregnancy, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes in the previous pregnancy, and PCOS.
How does Gestational Diabetes happen?
During pregnancy, women’s hormones play roller coasters. Due to this, the placenta starts to produce more hormones to support the growth of the baby, and this starts to interfere with the mother’s insulin, leading to insulin resistance.
The pancreas cannot produce enough amounts of insulin, and the body is unable to respond to that insulin properly. As the placenta and release hormones grow to support the baby, it blocks insulin function, building sugar in the blood.
Overweight, have a family history of diabetes, have PMOS (PCOS), are prediabetic, or who had high blood sugar in their previous pregnancy are at higher risk of having gestational diabetes.
Women over the age of 25 or 35 are at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Unusual fatigue
- Recurrent infection
- Temporary blurred vision
- Hunger is increased twice even though you are full
- Urge to pee very often
Impact of Gestational Diabetes on Pregnancy
Risk to mother
- Preeclampsia- high glucose levels harm the inner lining of the blood vessels, and this causes oxidative stress and poor blood vessel function, and also puts strain on kidney efficiency and raises blood pressure.
- C-section- extra blood sugar makes more insulin in the baby, and this stores energy as fat, which increases the size of the baby and increases the possibility of a C-section.
- Polyhydramnios- high blood sugar causes extra urine production and fluid buildup, and this stretches the uterus and triggers early labour. This makes the bag of water break early, and this leads to premature birth.
- Infections- high glucose levels cause difficulty for white blood cells for the mother to fight against infection, and this leads to frequent infections like bladder and thrush issues.
Risk to the baby
- Macrosomia- If there is no proper management of the condition, then it could result in a number of problems like macrosomia, i.e., large size of the child, leading to difficult labor and a caesarean operation, as well as lower levels of sugar in the baby immediately after birth and higher chances of preterm delivery.
- Breathing difficulty- babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have 5.6 times higher chances of having respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) than others. High glucose levels in the mother cause the baby to create more insulin than usual. Also, delayed production of surfactant (which is necessary to make lungs open) leads to RDS.
- Hypoglycemia- babies’ pancreas has more insulin in the womb, and this causes a severe drop in blood sugar just after their birth.
- Jaundice- gestational diabetes increases newborn’s risk of developing jaundice along with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and polycythemia (high red blood cell count).
- Early birth- high level of sugar in the mother’s bloodstream causes too much amniotic fluid, which puts extra pressure on the womb, and this leads to early labour.
This is not meant to scare you, but only to show the importance of these actions discussed in the manual. In most instances, all these problems can be avoided if the blood sugar level is maintained as per the required standards.
Controlling Gestational Diabetes
- Make sure to add a healthy diet that includes protein, healthy and complex carbs, fiber, and nutrition, and make sure to avoid sweets and drinks along with any processed food.
- 10 to 30 minutes of daily exercise is important after every meal, and it also helps muscles to use extra glucose. But it is crucial that you consult with your gynecologist first and then start the routine.
- Regular monitoring and check-ups can help you know how the body is reacting to different stages of pregnancy, and what steps you can implement to improve your journey.
- If diet and exercise are not controlling your numbers, then your doctor might suggest some pills or insulin to prepare your body for the best.
- Apart from every other challenge, C-section and preeclampsia are generally considered as unmanaged issues raised because of gestational diabetes.
- Go for regular checkups, and coordinate with the gynecologist. Experts play a huge role in balancing a healthy life, especially when you are pregnant. Your hormones are all over the place, and you don’t even know how these are impacting your body. Cradle Children’s Hospital requests mothers-to-be to take care of themselves a little more, so that they can control the health concerns and deliver a healthy baby.
Conclusion
Gestational diabetes can become a challenge if it is not controlled and properly managed. During pregnancy, you are not just responsible for your health; you are accountable for your baby’s health. On top of that, if you are already dealing with diabetes or have a family history, then don’t delay in getting the right guidance. You can pass on the issue to your child as well.
So, if you are pregnant and facing challenges, visit Cradle Children Hospital. Here, the team of gynecologists is highly skilled to provide accurate guidance and support for a better future.
Book your consultation today!
FAQs
Will this diabetes influence my baby?
So long as this diabetes is under control via nutrition and control, all the babies born to women having this disease seem to be absolutely healthy. But the chances become higher if there is high blood sugar.
Am I obliged to take insulin during pregnancy?
No, definitely not. Many women are treating this gestational diabetes via nutrition and exercise. In case this technique does not work for you, you may need insulin or some other treatment.
Is it possible for me to eat fruits being a woman with gestational diabetes?
Yes, but not in excessive quantities. Fruits, particularly whole fruits consumed in appropriate amounts with some kind of protein, are preferred to juices that quickly increase blood sugar levels.
Should I necessarily have cesarean delivery due to this gestational diabetes?
No, definitely not. There are many women with this disease giving birth to their babies without cesarean delivery. This procedure is used only in the case if the baby is too big.
Will this gestational diabetes be gone after delivery?
Probably, yes. Some special tests will be carried out after delivery to measure your blood sugar.
