What You Need To Know About Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is very similar to type 2 diabetes. In both types there is low insulin production and a decreased responsiveness by the body’s cells to insulin. This may be caused by specific hormones that are produced during pregnancy. This illness is difficult to detect based on symptoms alone and should be tested for during the pregnancy. Many times gestational diabetes will disappear after giving birth to the baby. It is easily treatable with careful monitoring by an obstetrician.
The Biggest Danger Of All
If gestational diabetes goes undiagnosed or untreated it can cause harm to the baby. The infant can be born with an abnormally high birth weight. The child can also have heart and nervous system difficulties as well as skeletal malformations. The baby can also succumb to respiratory distress. If severe the fetus can die in the womb and be stillborn due to a lack of appropriate placental blood circulation.
Women at risk for gestation diabetes include the following:
· Women diagnosed with pre-diabetes prior to pregnancy.
· Gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy.
· A family history of type 2 diabetes.
· Maternal age-the older a women is when she gets pregnant the more likelihood of developing gestational diabetes.
· Obesity prior to getting pregnant and while pregnant.
· Previous pregnancy with a child that had an abnormally large birth weight.
Other Risks To Know About
A woman that has gestational diabetes will be at risk to develop type 2 diabetes in the future. Therefore consistent screening for diabetes should continue after pregnancy. In addition a woman with gestational diabetes show be made aware that certain steps can be taken to prevent or prolong the onset of type 2 diabetes. A regular exercise plan should be initiated as soon as possible. In addition a healthy eating lifestyle should be adopted. And, an appropriate weight should be maintained with special focus placed on preventing abdominal obesity.
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