When a woman becomes pregnant, she begins to gain weight and her placenta produces new hormones. Both of these things are entirely natural and normal,but sometimes, they can also get in the way of the body's ability to absorb insulin. In some women, this can cause their blood sugar levels to reach dangerous highs the first time, causing what is known as gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a serious condition because it can have considerable effect on the health of both mother and child. If it is not treated appropriately, babies can be born with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), respiratory distress, and jaundice. The excessive birth weight associated with babies born to women with gestational diabetes can also cause problems during delivery, endangering the mother and necessitating a C-section.
Further danger to the mother can come in the form of high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and eclampsia. All of these conditions are potentially life-threatening and should be taken extremely seriously.
Fortunately, by working closely with your physicians, you can minimize the chance that you or your baby will experience the unfortunate side effects of gestational diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors
Risk factors of gestational diabetes include the following:
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Age:
If you're over 25, you're greater risk of experiencing gestational diabetes.
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Family History:
If your mother had gestational diabetes and she was pregnant, or any close family members are diabetic, your risks go up.
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Body Weight:
Women who are overweight, or have a body mass index (BMI) over 30, are also at risk.
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Race:
African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, and Pacific Islander women have a greater chance of experiencing gestational
diabetes.
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Personal Medical History:
If you've had gestational diabetes in the past or are prediabetic, your chances of having gestation diabetes go up.
If you exhibit signs of gestational diabetes or have one or more risk factors, your physician will want to perform a gestational diabetes test.
Taking a Gestational Diabetes Test
If you are at risk of gestational diabetes, there are a few tests your physician can administer to determine whether you have the condition. Depending on your medical history, your physician may recommend one or more of the following:
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Fasting Blood Glucose Test:
A fasting blood glucose test is when you do a blood test after not eating and only drinking water for 8 hours. This tells the doctor what your
blood sugar is like when it isn't being affected by diet.
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Screening Glucose Challenge Test:
Another gestational diabetes test is the screening glucose challenge. This test involves drinking a sugary drink, and testing your blood sugar and
hour later to see how well your body has absorbed the glucose.
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Oral Glucose Tolerance Test:
This test is as a combination of the fasting and screening glucose challenge tests. After fasting for 8 hours, your physician checks your blood
sugar. You then drink a sugary beverage, and have your blood glucose measured every hour for 3 hours. If two of these four tests show high glucose
levels, you have gestational diabetes.
Managing Gestational Diabetes
Managing gestational diabetes on top of your pregnancy may seem overwhelming. But with proper care and medical support, you can keep problems to a minimum. Treatments your physician may suggest to help manage your gestational diabetes may include increased exercise, changes in diet, regular blood monitoring, and insulin usage.
If you work hard and follow your physician's orders, chances are strong that your diabetes will cease after delivery. However, because women who had gestational diabetes are at higher risk of experiencing type 2 diabetes later in life, you'll always have to pay special attention to your lifestyle and diet.
For more information about gestational diabetes or gestational diabetes testing, contact your physician or a local medical professional to learn more.