Gestational diabetes happens to women who don't normally have diabetes, but find that their blood sugar levels are higher during pregnancy. It manifests when the cells have a more difficult time using sugar. Insulin is what helps the body balance and utilize glucose in the blood. During pregnancy, the hormones from the placenta can sometimes block the ability for the mother to make or use insulin. These hormonal changes directly affect the way the body converts food into energy. When the insulin doesn't work correctly or is lacking, sugar can build up in the blood and cause diabetic symptoms. Developing diabetes because of pregnancy is considered to be "Gestational diabetes" and is different than the diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 that manifests before pregnancy. High blood sugar can negatively affect both the mother and the baby. Women who are at a higher risk of Gestational diabetes are those with obesity, high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes or Gestational diabetes, heart disease, advanced maternal age, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
According to the CDC, 8-10% of pregnant women in the US and 14-17% of women worldwide develop Gestational diabetes. Around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, a blood test can expose women who are prone to Gestational diabetes. They may experience extra thirst, more nausea, extreme tiredness, and frequent urination to help signal that there is an imbalance. Once women give birth, these cases usually go away. However, women with Gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes after the pregnancy or later in life.
During pregnancy, women can help themselves control gestational diabetes by shifting their diet, exercising more, and if needed, taking medication. There are certain foods that can spike blood sugar, so it is important to know what is best to eat and shift the diet immediately in order to create more harmony. Mothers may need to check in with their doctors more frequently to help monitor and regulate this condition throughout pregnancy, but it is not a death sentence for either the baby or new mother. It is important to avoid processed foods and sugars, eat smaller meals more frequently, eat at the same times every day, and balance the diet with proteins, carbs, fibers, and fats at every meal. Drinking more water can help the body dilute sugar in the blood and help support the kidneys in releasing the excess sugar. This can help the body use insulin more effectively. Exercise is also great in helping the body use the excess glucose in the body. Once the baby arrives, they may be at risk of some complications due to Gestational diabetes. Premature birth, obesity, increased birth weight, breathing issues, or hypoglycemia, which can cause seizures in newborn babies, are all at a higher risk of occurring due to Gestational diabetes.
It is best to get a glucose test early on and see if further testing is needed. By diagnosing Gestational diabetes early, there is a greater chance of managing it and having a healthy and safe birth and delivery. When it is not managed, blood sugar levels can get too high and put both the mother and the child in danger. With awareness and acceptance, there are diets, exercise programs, and daily tests that can be used to manage Gestational diabetes.
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