Diabetes in Pregnancy - How to Control ?
Diabetes can develop during pregnancy in a woman who hasn't previously had the condition. This is called gestational diabetes, and it affects around two percent of pregnant women. It can lead to problems for the mother and baby if it isn't properly controlled.
Diabetes occurs during pregnancy, the mother often has no symptoms. The condition is usually only detected during routine antenatal checks.
Symptoms such as tiredness, excessive thirst, drinking lots of water, or concerns about the growth of the unborn baby may raise a suspicion of gestational diabetes, which is then confirmed with blood tests.
Some of the risks to both mother and baby include:
- The baby being small, or growing too large and making delivery difficult
- Increased risk of pre-eclampsia
- Increased risk of premature birth
- Increased risk of the baby suffering respiratory distress syndrome when born
Gestational diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar level is high because there isn't enough insulin, or insulin isn't working properly. Insulin is a hormone that enables your body to break down sugar (glucose) in your blood to be used as energy.
During pregnancy, various hormones block the usual action of insulin. This helps to make sure your growing baby gets enough glucose. Your body needs to produce more insulin to cope with these changes. Gestational diabetes develops when your body can't meet the extra insulin demands of the pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes usually begins in the second half of pregnancy, and goes away after the baby is born. If gestational diabetes doesn't go away after the baby is born, it's possible that you already had diabetes and that it was picked up during your pregnancy. The other forms of diabetes, called type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, are life-long conditions.
Causes of gestational diabetes
No-one knows why some women develop gestational diabetes and others don't, but you are more at risk if you:
Diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar level is high because there isn't enough insulin, or insulin isn't working properly. Insulin is a hormone that enables your body to break down sugar (glucose) in your blood to be used as energy.
During pregnancy, various hormones block the usual action of insulin. This helps to make sure your growing baby gets enough glucose. Your body needs to produce more insulin to cope with these changes. Gestational diabetes develops when your body can't meet the extra insulin demands of the pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes usually begins in the second half of pregnancy, and goes away after the baby is born. If gestational diabetes doesn't go away after the baby is born, it's possible that you already had diabetes and that it was picked up during your pregnancy. The other forms of diabetes, called type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, are life-long conditions.
Causes of gestational diabetes
No-one knows why some women develop gestational diabetes and others don't, but you are more at risk if you:
- Have a family history of gestational diabetes (ie mother, grandmother or sister had it)
- You have previously given birth to a large baby (weighing over 4.5kg/9lb 14)
- You have previously had a stillbirth
- Are overweight or obese
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Prevention of diabetes
Healthy lifestyle choices reduce the risk of you getting type 2 diabetes if you had gestational diabetes. Aim to eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise and maintain the correct weight for your height.
Treatment of Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is treated with diet and exercise. If this isn't enough, then insulin injections are used.
Pregnant women should be looked after by a team of hospital experts who specialise in caring for women with diabetes in pregnancy.
Healthy lifestyle choices reduce the risk of you getting type 2 diabetes if you had gestational diabetes. Aim to eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise and maintain the correct weight for your height.
Treatment of Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is treated with diet and exercise. If this isn't enough, then insulin injections are used.
Pregnant women should be looked after by a team of hospital experts who specialise in caring for women with diabetes in pregnancy.
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