Gestational diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels remain elevated during pregnancy. This type of diabetes develops during pregnancy and is not present before that.
Gestational diabetes usually develops by the middle of the pregnancy. Doctors suggest tests to check for gestational diabetes by 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, you should consult a gynecologist for regular check-ups. You can visit a Gynecologist in Islamabad.
Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can affect the well-being of the mother and the baby. However, there are many ways to keep blood sugar levels in control.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
During pregnancy, many different hormones are produced by the body. The hormones produced by the placenta interfere with the way the body uses insulin.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high blood glucose levels. It helps the sugar to get into cells of the body, thereby lowering the glucose circulating in the blood.
When insulin functioning is affected, it results in elevated blood glucose levels in the blood, causing gestational diabetes.
Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes usually does not show any symptoms and is detected by screening tests.
However, sometimes, it may show some symptoms like:
Feeling very thirsty
Urinating more than usual
Feeling tired
Dry mouth
Effects Of Gestational Diabetes On The Mother And Child
Gestational diabetes can affect both the mother and the child and can result in different complications. Therefore, it is important to get screened for gestational diabetes to prevent complications.
Effect Of Gestational Diabetes On The Baby
Macrosomic baby: Gestational diabetes can cause the baby to grow too large (macrosomic baby). It can cause the baby to get stuck in the birth canal during delivery and may require a C-section.
Preterm birth: Gestational diabetes can cause labor to start earlier than the expected due date. Sometimes, an early C-section may be needed because the size of the baby is too large.
Respiratory distress syndrome: Babies of mothers who have gestational diabetes may experience respiratory distress syndrome after birth- a condition in which the baby experiences severe breathing difficulty.
Hypoglycemia: The blood sugar level of the baby may fall low (hypoglycemia) after birth if the mother had diabetes during pregnancy, .
Higher risk of obesity: Gestational diabetes puts the baby at a higher risk of being obese in the future and developing diabetes.
Intrauterine death: If gestational diabetes remains untreated, it can result in the death of the baby inside the womb (intrauterine death), or they may die shortly after birth.
Effect Of Gestational Diabetes On The Mother
Gestational diabetes can affect the health of the mother in the following ways:
Hypertension and Preeclampsia: Gestational diabetes can cause high blood pressure in the mother or preeclampsia- a condition characterized by hypertension and leaking of proteins in the urine. Preeclampsia can put the life of the mother and the baby at serious risk. Preeclampsia can turn into eclampsia- a condition in which neurological problems like seizures can occur.
Long-term diabetes: Mothers who have gestational diabetes may continue to have diabetes after pregnancy too.
Increased chances of c- section: Normal vaginal delivery may be difficult in mothers with gestational diabetes, which increases the chances of a c-section to deliver the baby.
Conclusion
Gestational diabetes is a condition that can be detected by screening tests. There are many ways to control blood sugar levels during pregnancy to avoid complications. Your gynecologist may prescribe medications to keep sugar levels from rising. If you are pregnant, you should consult a gynecologist. You can visit oladoc.com for more information.
