In the United States 3 to 5% of all women are diagnosed with gestational or maternal diabetes. While having gestational diabetes increases the mother’s likelihood of having adult onset diabetes it does not mean that the baby will be born with diabetes or that the mother now automatically has it. Properly treated this will not harm you or your infant.
How do I get tested?
In about the 24th week of pregnancy the doctor will have you drink a thick cola like solution then draw your blood an hour later to see what your levels are. He may suggest to you that the baby be delivered by C-section if the baby is very large or you go past your due date.
What are the risk factors?
The following are risk factors that increase the odds that you will be diagnosed with gestational or maternal diabetes:
• Being overweight before conception
• Family history of diabetes
• Previous birth to a very large infant
• A stillbirth
• Too much amniotic fluid
• A child with a birth defect
• Being 25 or older
Why does gestational diabetes occur?
The placenta while helping to protect the fetus produces a number of hormones that may block the production of insulin. As the placenta grows the hormone production increases. It is the job of the pancreas to increase the production of insulin but sometimes it cannot keep up, however, usually when the placenta is removed after the infant’s birth, mother’s body will return to normal.
Prenatal care is essential for Mother and baby.
Gestational diabetes, which is not severe, can be monitored by your physician. Carefully monitored it does not need to cause concern, but without monitoring it can cause a condition in the infant of macrosomia or “large body” and place the baby at risk for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Source:
Dr. Nancy Snyderman’s Guide to Good Health by Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D. and Margaret Blackstone
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As like other illnesses, gestastional diabetes can cause a concern. This educational piece will benefit many people. Thanks!
Important health information presented so expertly.
Chan and Roberta, thank you so much for your support.
Take care and God bless.
Ola! Hardworkinjudy,
In addition to your post I was wondering, Being pregnant is a chapter in a woman’s lifespan whereby she has to go through adjustments in close to all areas. It is tricky but especially price risking. It is filled with intensive pressure, mixed feelings and never ever ending expectations. There is invariably that experience of concern most definitely when it is their first time. It in all likelihood do not ever fades even if it is previously your 2nd or 3rd youngster. There will almost always be that anxiety of the unknown most in particular when you are by now in the verge of permitting the child out.
Catch you again soon!
Everyone deserves the best care! Each person’s needs are unique, so it’s important for you to see the right personalised care from someone you can trust.
Hi There Hardworkinjudy,
Thanks you for your post, Gestational diabetes is a style of diabetes that develops in expecting women of all ages in 3% of pregnancies. For no matter justification, the blood sugar ranges grown to be abnormal while in being pregnant due to a delicate or at times critical carbohydrate intolerance. The prospective for fetal and neonatal loss is bigger in this category and is and so an location of perfect worry. Appropriate prenatal treatment makes it possible for for lots of problems to be averted. Gestational diabetes entails a exceptional amount of money of health-related awareness. There could possibly be many medical practitioners involved when dealing with this sort of diabetes.
Thanks