Diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to convert sugar. This causes blood sugar levels to become elevated. Gestational diabetes refers to women who are not diabetic prior to pregnancy, but develop the condition while pregnant. This form of diabetes is not as serious as typical Type I or Type II diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes include: weakness, weight loss, frequent urination, thirst and increased appetite. Some of these symptoms, such as increased appetite and frequent urination, are also typical side effects of pregnancy. However, with Gestational Diabetes they are much more pronounced than what is normally associated with pregnancy.
Certain factors are thought to put a woman at increased risk of Gestational Diabetes. These include: being over the age of 35, being overweight, a family history of Type II diabetes and a personal history of having large babies. The condition typically begins during the second trimester of pregnancy. The exact cause is unknown, but many doctors suspect it is caused by hormones blocking the normal action of insulin in the body.
Urine is tested for sugar at your prenatal visits. In addition, between twenty four and twenty eight weeks, you will be given a glucose tolerance test. You will be given a glucose solution to drink and your blood will be drawn an hour after drinking the solution to measure how well your body is processing the sugar. If you fail this test, the doctor will bring you in for a three hour test. Failing the initial test doesn’t necessarily mean you have Gestational Diabetes. It could just mean you ate a big piece of cake before the appointment. This is what happened to me with my first pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes causes the baby to grow larger. This can make delivery difficult and some women may need a c section. When the baby is born, it may have low blood sugar and need sugar water and monitoring. In extreme cases, heart defects in the baby can occur and in rare cases, untreated diabetes can result in a stillbirth.
The primary treatment is through dietary measures. You will need to increase your intake of carbohydrates and fiber. You should eat less fat and sugar. The doctor will give you the exact dietary requirements for your condition. If dietary measures don’t improve the condition, you may be given insulin injections. Unlike regular diabetes, the condition corrects itself after the baby is born.