Post by karkari536 on Jun 8, 2022 2:41:26 GMT -6
Gestational diabetes (GD)
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is first diagnosed during pregnancy. Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how the cell uses sugar (glucose). Gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar, which can affect pregnancy and the health of the baby. While any pregnancy complication is a concern, pregnant mothers can control their diabetes by eating healthy foods, exercising, and taking medication if necessary. Blood sugar control can maintain the health of mother and baby and prevent difficult delivery.
There are two types of GD. Women with class A1 can control it through diet and exercise. People with class A2 need to take insulin or other medications. In women with gestational diabetes, blood sugar usually returns to normal soon after delivery. But if a mother has diabetes during pregnancy, she is more likely to develop diabetes in the future, so she should take the necessary precautions to prevent it.
Symptoms
Gestational diabetes rarely causes symptoms. In some cases, it may cause mild symptoms, including:
1) Fatigue
2) Blurred vision
3) Excessive thirst
4) Excessive need to urinate
5) Snoring
Causes
The exact cause of gestational diabetes is unknown, but hormones may play a role. During pregnancy, the body produces higher amounts of certain hormones. These hormones affect the placenta and help stabilize the pregnancy. Over time, the levels of these hormones in the body increase. They may make the body resistant to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Insulin helps transport glucose from the blood into the cells, where it is used for energy. During pregnancy, the body naturally becomes slightly insulin resistant, so more glucose in the bloodstream is passed on to the baby. If insulin resistance becomes too severe, abnormal blood glucose levels may rise, leading to GD.
Risk Factors
The following conditions can increase the risk factor for gestational diabetes:
1) High blood pressure
2) Over the age of 25
3) Family history of diabetes
4) Overweight before became pregnant
5) Experiencing gestational diabetes in the past
6) Had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
7) Gaining a larger than normal amount of weight during pregnancy
8) Multiple babies
9) Previously given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
10) Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), acanthosis nigricans, or other conditions that are associated with insulin resistance
11) Lack of physical activity
12) Women who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American
Complications
Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can cause problems for both mother and baby.
Complications that may affect the baby
If the mother has gestational diabetes, the baby may be at higher risk for the following conditions, including:
1) Excessive birth weight: Maternal hyperglycemia may cause the baby to grow too large. Very large babies weighing 9 pounds or more are more likely to be born by cesarean section.
2) Preterm birth: Hyperglycemia may increase the risk of preterm birth in women. Or even preterm labor may be recommended by an obstetrician because of the baby’s size.
3) Serious breathing difficulties: Babies born prematurely may experience Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a condition that makes it difficult to breathe.
4) Low blood sugar: Sometimes, the babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have low blood sugar shortly after birth. Severe periods of hypoglycemia may cause seizures in the child. Fast feeding and sometimes an intravenous glucose solution can bring the baby’s blood sugar levels back to normal.
5) Obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life: Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes are at higher risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
6) Stillbirth: Untreated high blood sugar levels during pregnancy can lead to the baby’s death either before or shortly after birth.
Complications that may affect the mother
Risks Which increase in the mother include:
1) High blood pressure and preeclampsia
2) Having a surgical delivery (C-section)
3) Future diabetes
How Common Is Diabetes During Pregnancy?
In the United States, about 1 to 2 percent of pregnant women have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and about 6 to 9 percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. GD has increased in recent years. Recent studies have shown that from 2000 to 2010, the percentage of pregnant women with gestational diabetes increased by 56%, and the percentage of women with type 1 or 2 diabetes before pregnancy increased by 37%.
Deduction
For many women, blood sugar tests are normal at the beginning of pregnancy, but at the end of pregnancy, due to the limited capacity for insulin secretion and insulin deficiency, the blood sugar rises and lasts until delivery. This condition is called gestational diabetes.
Although the results of tests in these people return to normal immediately after delivery, a significant number of them will develop diabetes in the future. During pregnancy, diabetes should be closely monitored by an obstetrician to protect the mother and baby from its complications.
Arjang Naim, MD regularly checks the condition of pregnant mothers and prescribes the necessary tests. If a mother has diabetes, he offers the treatment required to control blood sugar.
There are two types of GD. Women with class A1 can control it through diet and exercise. People with class A2 need to take insulin or other medications. In women with gestational diabetes, blood sugar usually returns to normal soon after delivery. But if a mother has diabetes during pregnancy, she is more likely to develop diabetes in the future, so she should take the necessary precautions to prevent it.
Symptoms
Gestational diabetes rarely causes symptoms. In some cases, it may cause mild symptoms, including:
1) Fatigue
2) Blurred vision
3) Excessive thirst
4) Excessive need to urinate
5) Snoring
Causes
The exact cause of gestational diabetes is unknown, but hormones may play a role. During pregnancy, the body produces higher amounts of certain hormones. These hormones affect the placenta and help stabilize the pregnancy. Over time, the levels of these hormones in the body increase. They may make the body resistant to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Insulin helps transport glucose from the blood into the cells, where it is used for energy. During pregnancy, the body naturally becomes slightly insulin resistant, so more glucose in the bloodstream is passed on to the baby. If insulin resistance becomes too severe, abnormal blood glucose levels may rise, leading to GD.
Risk Factors
The following conditions can increase the risk factor for gestational diabetes:
1) High blood pressure
2) Over the age of 25
3) Family history of diabetes
4) Overweight before became pregnant
5) Experiencing gestational diabetes in the past
6) Had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
7) Gaining a larger than normal amount of weight during pregnancy
8) Multiple babies
9) Previously given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
10) Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), acanthosis nigricans, or other conditions that are associated with insulin resistance
11) Lack of physical activity
12) Women who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American
Complications
Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can cause problems for both mother and baby.
Complications that may affect the baby
If the mother has gestational diabetes, the baby may be at higher risk for the following conditions, including:
1) Excessive birth weight: Maternal hyperglycemia may cause the baby to grow too large. Very large babies weighing 9 pounds or more are more likely to be born by cesarean section.
2) Preterm birth: Hyperglycemia may increase the risk of preterm birth in women. Or even preterm labor may be recommended by an obstetrician because of the baby’s size.
3) Serious breathing difficulties: Babies born prematurely may experience Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a condition that makes it difficult to breathe.
4) Low blood sugar: Sometimes, the babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have low blood sugar shortly after birth. Severe periods of hypoglycemia may cause seizures in the child. Fast feeding and sometimes an intravenous glucose solution can bring the baby’s blood sugar levels back to normal.
5) Obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life: Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes are at higher risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
6) Stillbirth: Untreated high blood sugar levels during pregnancy can lead to the baby’s death either before or shortly after birth.
Complications that may affect the mother
Risks Which increase in the mother include:
1) High blood pressure and preeclampsia
2) Having a surgical delivery (C-section)
3) Future diabetes
How Common Is Diabetes During Pregnancy?
In the United States, about 1 to 2 percent of pregnant women have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and about 6 to 9 percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. GD has increased in recent years. Recent studies have shown that from 2000 to 2010, the percentage of pregnant women with gestational diabetes increased by 56%, and the percentage of women with type 1 or 2 diabetes before pregnancy increased by 37%.
Deduction
For many women, blood sugar tests are normal at the beginning of pregnancy, but at the end of pregnancy, due to the limited capacity for insulin secretion and insulin deficiency, the blood sugar rises and lasts until delivery. This condition is called gestational diabetes.
Although the results of tests in these people return to normal immediately after delivery, a significant number of them will develop diabetes in the future. During pregnancy, diabetes should be closely monitored by an obstetrician to protect the mother and baby from its complications.
Arjang Naim, MD regularly checks the condition of pregnant mothers and prescribes the necessary tests. If a mother has diabetes, he offers the treatment required to control blood sugar.
(Source: drarjangnaim.com/)