What is gestational diabetes really?
Gestational diabetes(GD)is a form of diabetes that only affects pregnant women. It normally occurs in pregnant women during the second trimester of pregnancy. That is somewhere between weeks twenty four (24) and weeks twenty eight (28). You might be wondering why wait until pregnancy to test? Would it not be too late to do anything? The truth is testing for this type of diabetes before pregnancy would be futile as it is the hormones that are made by the placenta that causes the insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is not only the cause of this type diabetes but also type 2 diabetes. GD normally affect between two to four percent of all pregnant women. The good news is, since it affects so many women, there is lots of information available on how to properly take care of your health during pregnancy. As a result the health risk to both your health and the health of you unborn child will be minimised. Some women are at higher risk of developing this form of diabetes than others so it is important that everyone know the risk factors. If you think that you are at high risk it is important that you be tested. GD occurs when the blood sugar level is too high during pregnancy. This is because the expecting mother is not producing enough usable insulin to fulfil her insulin requirement. The insulin hormone enables the body to break down sugars (glucose) in the blood and use it as energy. Why does this happen? During pregnancy it is assumed that the melange of hormones block the usual action of insulin to ensure the baby gets enough glucose for proper growth. It is also believed that the hormones produced during pregnancy increases the woman's resistance to insulin, resulting in impaired glucose tolerance. Virtually all pregnant women develop some degree of insulin resistance but GD affects two to four percent of all pregnancies. The problem really starts if you become too insulin resistant (hyperglycaemic). Women who suffer from GD have an increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus in later life. GD risk factor No-one knows why some women develop GD and others don't. Women who are more likely to develop diabetes during pregnancy may have some of these risk factors in common: • have a family history of GD (i.e. mother, grandmother) • have previously given birth to a large baby (over 9lbs) • have previously had a stillbirth • are overweight or obese • aged over 25 • have a history of glucose intolerance These are the main risk factors. If you are particularly at risk ensure you are tested and follow the advice of your health care professional. source:Photo from:freedigitalphotos.net
Remember that your health and the health of your precious little baby you may be affected if
gestational diabetes symptoms
are not monitored and kept under proper control.
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