Most women worry about contracting gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes, which commonly happens in the second or third trimester, can lead to complications for both mother and unborn child. Although diabetes during pregnancy is relatively rare, expectant mothers can often control it by diet and exercise.
A woman’s risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy increases if she has certain risk factors. These include a history of high blood pressure, obesity, ethnicity, and a family history of diabetes. Women who have had diabetes during pregnancy in the past are more likely to develop it again in subsequent pregnancies. Women who are pregnant at an older age are also at greater risk.
The test for gestational diabetes usually involves fasting for at least 8 hours, then drinking a sugary drink (glucola). A blood test is done to check blood sugar levels.
If gestational diabetes is diagnosed, a program of diet and exercise will be prescribed to help control the diabetes during the pregnancy.
What Does Diabetes in Pregnancy Look Like?
If you’re pregnant and have diabetes, you may not have any symptoms. But some women with diabetes during pregnancy do have symptoms, including:
• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Recurrent vaginal infections
• Increased blood pressure
• Fatigue
If you have diabetes, you may have sugar in your urine during a routine test. This can prompt your doctor to do a glucose test.
It is vital to diagnose and treat diabetes during pregnancy as soon as possible, as it can cause complications during pregnancy. Risks to the mother include raised blood pressure, which can lead to a dangerous condition known as eclampsia. Diabetes during pregnancy can also increase the chances of a woman developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. The unborn child can have problems with its heart or kidneys as a result of the mother’s diabetes during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman’s life, but it can also be a time of great stress and worry. One of the things that pregnant women worry about is developing diabetes during pregnancy. Diabetes during pregnancy is certainly an unwanted complication, but fortunately it can be diagnosed easily and treated effectively. It’s important to stick to your prenatal check-up schedule to ensure your doctor can catch any potential issues.
