Gestational Diabetes
Understanding the Facts of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is often diagnosed during the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. This kind of diabetes manifests itself mostly in pregnant women ages 25 years old and above. This is especially true in women who are obese. Most of the people who get this disease are those who have a family history of diabetes, have had the same problem in a previous pregnancy or have too much amniotic fluid during the pregnancy.
Causes
Gestational diabetes occurs when there is a problem with the placenta which causes the pancreas not to produce the right amount of insulin, a necessary chemical helps manage the blood sugar level in the body.
Symptoms
The signs that a pregnant woman may have developed gestational diabetes include the following:
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Frequent urination
• Reoccurring yeast or vaginal infections
• High blood pressure
Diagnosis
The pregnant woman who is suspected of having gestational diabetes will need to undergo some tests to check the blood sugar level. Before the test, she will be asked not to eat for 4 to 8 hours. After the blood sugar is checked, she will need to drink a sugar laced juice and after 2 hours, she will undergo the same test again. If the result is more that 140mg/dl then it is confirmed that she has gestational diabetes.
Treatment
Women who have gestational diabetes may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels. Additionally, they may be placed on a special diet and asked to exercise 3 to 4 times a week so that they and their babies will not be harmed by the excess glucose.
Diabetes Management
Because pregnancy is already risky for many women and gestational diabetes just adds another risk, you need to wear a medical ID bracelet at all times. If something happens to you, the hospital staff needs to know immediately that you have this form of diabetes so that can give you and the baby the appropriate treatment.