Gestational Diabetes

For many people, the news of a baby on the way is cause for celebration.  Nine months seems like an eternity, because everyone is so anxious to meet this little person.  But, for some families, the days leading up to the birth can be very scary.  Pregnancy is not without risks, and some ladies develop complications that can be harmful for both her and the baby.   Because it is one of the most common concerns, many ladies and their families need an answer to the question:  what is gestational diabetes?

The Trigger

During pregnancy, generally around week 24, approximately 3-12% of women develop diabetes.  Even ladies that are extremely dedicated to eating healthy natural foods are diagnosed with the disease. Along with all the normal

and expected changes that the body undergoes, the body starts failing to process carbohydrates by breaking down the sugars and getting the cells into the bloodstream.  Enter diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, the chemical necessary to deal with the sugars in the blood.  As the baby grows, mom’s body is required to produce more insulin, to deal with all of the extra sugars needed to support her and the baby.

As studies into this health concern continue, it is also suggested that gestational diabetes is related to the placenta.  The hormones in pregnancy interfere with the production of insulin.  Then, before very long, the sugars build up in the blood and the mom becomes diabetic.

The Big Three

Diabetes is a serious health problem that affects millions of people-pregnant or not.  To better understand gestational diabetes, it might help to have a view of the big three.  The most serious form is juvenile diabetes, also known as type I diabetes.  Youngsters diagnosed with diabetes simply have bodies that quit manufacturing insulin.

Constant monitoring and regular shots are required to keep the body in balance.  To ignore the problem means death.  Unfortunately, as the years progress the disease takes quite a toll.  Individuals have a great risk of heart disease, loss of eyesight, circulation problems, and much more.

Type II diabetes is also known as adult onset diabetes.  While some people will have to learn how to self-medicate with insulin shots, many people can get the disease under control with a healthier diet and exercise.  Today, schools are also teaching the value of proper nutrition, hopefully to prevent some of the students from suffering this illness in the future.  So, it is a big problem in society today.

Gestational diabetes is different.  In most cases, the disease goes away after a baby is born.  But, like Type II diabetes, it can often be controlled by proper diet and exercise. Nevertheless, all 3 types of the disease have one major factor in common.  It is extremely important to follow the advice of a doctor very closely, monitor blood sugar levels, and do whatever treatment for diabetes is required for the rest of a lifetime, or until the birth of a child and insulin production returns to normal.

Testing for Gestational Diabetes

Because the disease does not usually manifest in pregnancy until at least 22 weeks, doctors schedule the test between then and 24 weeks of pregnancy.  Until this point, the baby is so small that a significant increase of insulin is not required.  But, as the baby begins to grow bigger and gain weight, he/she needs to be able to metabolize the nutrients provided by the mother.

Most women find the test a wee bit unpleasant.  It requires fasting through the night.  So, doctors generally schedule the test in the morning, so mom does not fade away from hunger.  Then, it is simply a matter of drinking a very thick and sugary orange drink.
Unfortunately, gingerly sipping the beverage is not permitted.  The entire amount needs to get into the body as quickly as possible, so sugar levels are high.  After waiting in the office for about an hour, the technicians take a blood sample and tests for the level of sugar still in the system.  If enough insulin is being produced to support both baby and mom, the sugar levels will be at an appropriate level.

However, if the sugar levels are still too high, the doctor will want to run another test in a few days.  If the bloodstream still contains too much sugar, mom will have to carefully follow the instructions for gestational diabetes until the end of the pregnancy, at least.  In the future, any subsequent pregnancies will have to be carefully monitored as high risk, because it is likely to happen again.

In short, gestational diabetes generally only lasts for the duration of the pregnancy.  But, it is dangerous for both mom and the baby.  Carefully following the advice of the doctor is essential.  It is a very serious disease that is potentially fatal.  Yet, it can be controlled, in most cases, by a change in diet and exercise.  So, for the health of the baby drink up that orange goo.

Millions of people deal with the health issues related to diabetes every day.  But, with the proper medical care, it is possible to lead a relatively normal life.  A property diet, plenty of exercise, and careful monitoring helps keep the disease at bay.   But, it is quite a shock for expectant mothers to discover they are suffering from this all-too common complication.  Instead, it is nice to know, before the diagnosis, the risk factors for gestational diabetes.

The following information does not mean anyone will necessarily be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  The factors simply up the odds for some moms.  Knowledge is not for the purpose of panicking  pregnant women, who already have a lot of concerns on their minds, but to become better informed, just in case.

Family

The first risk factor should come as no surprise.  Women that already have family members with the disease should not be surprised, if the added insulin requirement for the baby bumps them into this complication.  Chances are pretty good they are already eating well and exercising, in order to stave off the disease.  While they will still have a better than 50% chance of being diagnosed with diabetes later in life, the current problem will probably go away, after the baby is born.

Stillbirth

Although the reason is unclear, it seems that moms who have lost a child to stillbirth are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.  Thankfully, the previous tragedy should also put the doctors on high alert to monitor any subsequent pregnancies more closely.

High Birth Weight in a Sibling

Women with diabetes general have babies with a higher than normal birth weight.  Therefore, if a brother or sister weighed more than 9 pounds at birth, the doctor will want to monitor for gestational diabetes more closely.  Because of the added sugars delivered to the baby during pregnancy, they tend to get fatter.  In September 2009, an Indonesian woman with diabetes gave birth to a son more than twice the weight of the average baby.

Overweight

If mom already has a problem with weight issues, she is more likely to develop gestational diabetes.  In truth, the same risk factor is present even for those people who are 20% over a healthy weight.  Although it is definitely not the time to go on a weight loss program, it is time to change eating and exercise habits.  Caring for a baby begins long before he/she makes a first public appearance.

High Blood Pressure

Pregnant women are more likely to develop high blood pressure.  But, if they are diagnosed with preeclampsia, the likelihood of adding diabetes to the complications also increases.  Although it does not seem fair to have to deal with 2 major health issues, on top of being pregnant, one often leads to the other.  But, following the advice of the doctor, improving diet and exercise, and carefully monitoring the body will greatly improve the chances of holding a happy and healthy baby in a few months.

Infections

Women that tend to have urinary tract, skin or genital infections are also prone to develop gestational diabetes.  Therefore, the best defense, other than eating healthy and exercising, is to let the doctor know if infections seem to occur more frequently than normal.

Multiples

Women pregnant with multiples are more likely to acquire gestational diabetes.  Naturally, the body will have to produce more insulin to accommodate the babies as they grow.  Of course, having twins, triplets, or more babies at one time naturally puts the mom and babies at greater risk for many health concerns, so careful monitoring is necessary in any case.  It will be extremely vital to listen to what the doctor recommends; even on the days fudging the rules seems possible.

Age

Everyone already knows that advanced age increases the risks levels of any pregnancy.  But, most women will be surprised to learn that being over the age of 25 increases the risk of gestational diabetes.  Many women are just getting started in their careers and not even thinking about a family yet.  So, this last risk factor for gestational diabetes pretty much covers anyone who many not fit within the other risk categories.

Most ladies probably do not know how prevalent gestational diabetes is during pregnancy.  In fact, 25% of all metabolic disorders in pregnancy are attributed to diabetes.  For this reason, every woman is now tested for the disease about half way through the pregnancy. Every woman is at risk and so is her baby.

In short, gestational diabetes is such a prevalent complication of pregnancy that doctors automatically test for the disease.  With 8 serious considerations, almost all women have at least one risk factor for the disease.  In every pregnancy, the ultimate goal is to have a healthy, happy baby, and taking care of a child starts with taking care of the mother.

Monitoring gestational diabetes can sometimes be complicated.  Depending on the level of sugar in the system and whether a change in diet and exercise is sufficient to get the metabolic disorder under control, the doctor will determine how often it is necessary to test blood sugar. Especially at first, it may be necessary to monitor blood sugar levels more often, in order to see how eating, exercising and other activities, or lack thereof, affects the diabetes.

More Often than Not

The general rule of thumb for checking blood sugar is as often as possible.

Before and after eating and exercise is especially important.  However, if mom becomes ill or does not feel good, it may be necessary to test more often and adjust insulin shots, if necessary.  For example, the flu can really play mean games with metabolic disorders.  Eating schedules are off and it is simply impossible to take a long walk or even lift hand weights.

If control of gestational diabetes is managed by exercise and diet, but mom is feeling yucky and schedules are off, it is important to call the doctor and find out what is necessary to maintain appropriate sugar levels.  If blood sugar level dips below 60 mg/dl mom and baby are both at risk for serious complications of gestational diabetes.

According to Manage Your Gestational Diabetes by Lois Jovanovic-Peterson, M.D., several symptoms will let mom-to-be know she is in trouble.  Then, it is vital to eat something with sugar content like candy, a glass of milk or juice, or something the doctor has suggested to get blood sugar levels up, before something goes terribly wrong.  The doctor provides a list of possible symptoms.  If mom has low blood sugar, she may experience:

• Dizziness
• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Increased Heart Rate
• Clumsiness
• Jerky Motions
• Hunger
• Headache
• Unexplained Moodiness
• Paleness
• Confusion
• Lack of Concentration
• Mouth Tingles

Of course, any one of these symptoms may be due to other circumstances.  But, when dealing with gestational diabetes, get used to taking absolutely no chances.  Test blood sugar levels.  If normal eating and exercise is not possible and not controlling the diabetes the doctor may require mom to come in for a checkup.  It may also be necessary to be hospitalized until mom-to-be feels better and is able to resume a regular diet for gestational diabetes.

The Need to Know

If mom has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it is important to NOT keep it a secret from friends, family members, and even coworkers. Should blood sugar levels become too low, it is possible to pass out, in conjunction with the other adverse insulin reactions mentioned above.

Therefore, it is important to let people know what to do and who to call, if mom cannot do it for herself.  It will also be necessary to wear some sort of identification bracelet or necklace.  Hopefully, nothing will go wrong.  But, if mom is in some sort of accident or has a reaction in a public place, unfamiliar people or emergency health care workers need to be aware of any serious medical conditions, so the proper medical treatment can be administered right away.

Miracles of Modern Medicine

While mom may not feel lucky to have gestational diabetes, it really is fortunate to have the miracle of modern medical technology.  Less than 2 decades ago, it was impossible for expectant mothers, or anyone else for that matter, to test for blood sugar levels throughout the day.  Colorful, handheld monitors have not been available for public use for very long.

Today, mom can check her blood as often as she feels necessary.  If diet and exercise are sufficient to keep gestational diabetes controlled, it will only be necessary to test first thing in the morning and after breakfast, lunch and dinner.  If insulin shots are part of the treatment, it will be important to test at least 8 times a day.  The doctor may even want mom to get up in the middle of the night, in order to make sure that an insulin shot is not needed.

Although frustration and a host of other emotions are justified, try to think of it as a blessing that modern medicine makes it possible to do what it takes to give the baby a chance to be born healthy, without any adverse side effects from the gestational diabetes. Instead of guessing what is needed, and constantly worrying about the symptoms of low blood sugar, mom can test before and after every meal, before and after exercise, as often as necessary when she is feeling ill, and whenever she simply wants to make sure that the blood sugar is within the normal range.  Before something goes terribly wrong, she can call the doctor and make any adjustments to treatment for gestational diabetes, thus improving the chances for safely delivering a healthy baby.