Gestational Diabetes - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Peter Rodrick
November 09, 2008
Gestational diabetes is a kind of diabetes that can happen during pregnancy. Out of every 100 pregnant women, 3 to 5 develop gestational diabetes. Like other kinds of diabetes, gestational diabetes is a condition in which your body has trouble managing the levels of glucose (sugar). Glucose is your body's main source of fuel.
Diabetes raises your blood sugar level. This can create serious health problems for you and your baby.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
Hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy such as estrogen, cortisol and lacotogen – while vital for ensuring the overall health of the baby – actually prevent insulin in the body from doing what it is supposed to do: break down glucose into energy. As the placenta grows during the second and third trimester, even more of these hormones are secreted, causing the body to increase its resistance to insulin.
During pregnancy, an organ called the placenta develops in the uterus. The placenta connects the mother and baby and makes sure the baby has enough food and water. It also makes several hormones. Some of these hormones make it hard for insulin to do its job—controlling blood sugar—so the mother's body has to make more insulin to keep sugar levels in a safe range. Gestational diabetes develops when the organ that makes insulin, the pancreas, cannot make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels within a safe range.
Gestational Diabetes : Symptoms
Because gestational diabetes does not cause symptoms, you need to be tested for the condition. This is usually done between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. You may be surprised if your test shows a high blood sugar. It is important for you to be tested for gestational diabetes, because high blood sugar can cause problems for both you and your baby.
Signs and symptoms in most cases are unnoticeable but in some cases increased urine production and excessive thirst and fatigue develop. The complications that can occur for the baby if the disease is left untreated can be lethal. These complications include the baby growing too large because of the extra glucose causing the baby to produce too much insulin resulting in a c-section birth or the baby getting stuck in the birth canal possibly sustaining injuries. Other complications for the baby are Respiratory distress syndrome, jaundice, low blood sugar and the later development of Type 2 Diabetes, and maybe even death.
How is gestational diabetes treated?
In most cases, you can manage the condition by changing your diet and taking regular exercise. Your midwife or the specialist you see at the diabetic clinic will advise you on how to control your blood sugar level by cutting down on sugary foods and drinks. You will be helped to look at your eating patterns, and advised to choose a healthy balanced diet of wholegrain carbohydrates, lean proteins and healthy fats.
A nonstress test is a very simple, painless test for you and your baby. A machine that hears and displays your baby's heartbeat (electronic fetal monitor) is placed on your abdomen. When the baby moves, its heart rate normally increases 15 - 20 beats above its regular rate.
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Diabetes raises your blood sugar level. This can create serious health problems for you and your baby.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
Hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy such as estrogen, cortisol and lacotogen – while vital for ensuring the overall health of the baby – actually prevent insulin in the body from doing what it is supposed to do: break down glucose into energy. As the placenta grows during the second and third trimester, even more of these hormones are secreted, causing the body to increase its resistance to insulin.
During pregnancy, an organ called the placenta develops in the uterus. The placenta connects the mother and baby and makes sure the baby has enough food and water. It also makes several hormones. Some of these hormones make it hard for insulin to do its job—controlling blood sugar—so the mother's body has to make more insulin to keep sugar levels in a safe range. Gestational diabetes develops when the organ that makes insulin, the pancreas, cannot make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels within a safe range.
Gestational Diabetes : Symptoms
Because gestational diabetes does not cause symptoms, you need to be tested for the condition. This is usually done between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. You may be surprised if your test shows a high blood sugar. It is important for you to be tested for gestational diabetes, because high blood sugar can cause problems for both you and your baby.
Signs and symptoms in most cases are unnoticeable but in some cases increased urine production and excessive thirst and fatigue develop. The complications that can occur for the baby if the disease is left untreated can be lethal. These complications include the baby growing too large because of the extra glucose causing the baby to produce too much insulin resulting in a c-section birth or the baby getting stuck in the birth canal possibly sustaining injuries. Other complications for the baby are Respiratory distress syndrome, jaundice, low blood sugar and the later development of Type 2 Diabetes, and maybe even death.
How is gestational diabetes treated?
In most cases, you can manage the condition by changing your diet and taking regular exercise. Your midwife or the specialist you see at the diabetic clinic will advise you on how to control your blood sugar level by cutting down on sugary foods and drinks. You will be helped to look at your eating patterns, and advised to choose a healthy balanced diet of wholegrain carbohydrates, lean proteins and healthy fats.
A nonstress test is a very simple, painless test for you and your baby. A machine that hears and displays your baby's heartbeat (electronic fetal monitor) is placed on your abdomen. When the baby moves, its heart rate normally increases 15 - 20 beats above its regular rate.
Visit Home Remedies. Do not forget to visit Breast Enlargement Capsules and Breast Serum Natural Breast Enlargement
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