A medical condition affecting about a hundred thousand women yearly. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a condition that does not receive the attention it deserves. In this article, we would walk through what gestational diabetes is, risk factors for GDM, symptoms, how it is diagnosed, complications and how to prevent it.
First, a quick background. Insulin is a hormone produces by the body in the pancreas that regulates energy levels by helping convert blood sugar into energy. GDM occurs when hormones produced in pregnancy (e.g. progesterone, human placenta lactogen, cortisol) affect the normal functioning of insulin, leading to an increased level of blood sugar (or hyperglycemia) in pregnant women.
GDM is usually only seen during pregnancy and usually clears up after the baby is born. It usually arises between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy.
All women are at risk of developing GDM. However, some factors may put you at increased risk. These include:
Most women with GDM would not present with any symptoms. However, some women may have:
During your routine antenatal visits, the doctor would assess your risk of having GDM. He would ask you questions about your medical background, run a couple of tests around 24 weeks to ascertain your blood sugar levels. The oral glucose tolerance test. The routine urine test during your antenatal visit is also a way of screening for GDM.
While most women with GDM have normal pregnancies, some women may have some of the following complications:
The fundamental ways include monitoring and control of your blood sugar level and eating a special diet as prescribed by a dietician. You also need to loose weight if you are obese. Medication may be offerred if these fail to control your blood sugar.
If you are planning on getting pregnant and you have any of the risk factors above, it is also very important to watch your weight and plan your pregnancies with your doctor.
American Diabetes Association; 24/06/2020; https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/gestational-diabetes
Thomas R. Moore; 24/06/2020; https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/127547-overview
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