subject: Diabetes In Pregnancy [print this page] Diabetes In Pregnancy Diabetes In Pregnancy
Diabetes in pregnancy affects some women who have never suffered with it prior to becoming pregnant.
Diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar level is high due to the lack of enough insulin in your blood, or through what is known as insulin resistance.
During pregnancy hormones block the normal action of insulin in order to help the growing baby get enough sugar. More insulin is therefore needed to manage these changes, and gestational diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce the extra insulin which the pregnancy demands.
Gestational diabetes quite often becomes apparent during the second half of a pregnancy and goes away when the baby is born. If you've had a slowly developing form of Type 1 diabetes however, then it will remain and will become a lifelong condition.
Symptoms include an increased thirst, the need to urinate more often, and feeling tired. These are of course normal symptoms that occur when pregnant in any case, so may not necessarily mean you have gestational diabetes.
Proper control of diabetes during this time is absolutely essential in order to avoid complications such as pre-eclampsia, which causes high blood pressure, premature labour, or having too much fluid around the unborn baby.
It's not known why gestational diabetes occurs, but you are more at risk if there's a family history of gestation diabetes, are overweight, or have polycystic ovary syndrome.
Gestational diabetes can be diagnosed by drinking a glucose drink in the morning after which the doctor will take blood samples at different intervals to see how your body copes with the glucose over time.
Once diagnosed you'll be referred to a clinic where you can be monitored by doctors and nurses experienced in the field. You will have to attend frequent antenatal appointments in order to keep the condition under control.
It's very important to learn to control your blood sugar level by following a healthy diet. Learning what foods to eat, and what foods to avoid, will help keep the situation under control.
Daily moderate exercise such as walking will help reduce the blood sugar levels and promote a sense of well being.
Diabetes in pregnancy can be controlled with proper medication, a healthy nutritious diet and light exercise. Being monitored regularly will ensure that if any complications arise the situation will be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Understanding the condition will help you to take the necessary steps to safeguard yourself and your baby during pregnancy.
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