Instah > Diabetes > Facts about Gestational Diabetes
Facts about Gestational Diabetes
What Gestational Diabetes is all about?
Gestational Diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and about 5% pregnant women are affected by it according to American Diabetes Association. About 135,000 of those suffering from Gestational Diabetes are recorded in the US every year.
Gestational Diabetes develops when the body is unable to use insulin due to insulin resistance. During pregnancy, a woman requires three times more insulin for glucose to be removed from the blood and be converted into energy.
Gestational Diabetes affects the mother as well as the baby in later stage of the pregnancy. Extra blood glucose level passes through the placenta to the baby, giving the latter a higher glucose level. The baby’s pancreas has to make extra insulin in order to get rid of blood glucose.
What is the cause of Gestational Diabetes?
Scientists are of course are not sure of its precise cause, but it is felt that the hormones of the placenta make it very difficult for the mother’s body to produce the required insulin.
What happens if Gestational Diabetes remains untreated?
In case it is not treated then the baby gets too much of blood sugar from his or her mother. This causes a high birth weight. Delivery is difficult and the above normal chances of developing Type 2 diabetes later in one’s life according to the association.
How to deal with Gestational Diabetes?
- Mother’s affected by it are kept on a special diet.
- Regular exercise regimen is prescribed to keep the blood glucose levels under control.
- Some women may be prescribed insulin shots.
- Glucose levels are tested frequently during pregnancy.
Why control gestational diabetes?
One can avoid a caesarean birth which is required in the case of a heavy weight baby.
Pregnant women can suffer from Gestational Diabetes, which can also cause high blood sugar levels in the baby to be born.
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