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Gestational diabetes (Pregnancy diabetes) Overview: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Overview
Table of Contents
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes which affects pregnant women during their pregnancy journey. Gestational diabetes does not affect normal women and neither men, it only hampers pregnant women.
Gestational diabetes occurs when your blood sugar level is too high. If left untreated can lead to type 2 diabetes in women. Moreover, the disease is easily prevented by keeping a healthy diet during pregnancy, avoiding white things ( sugar, salt ) and exercising regularly.
Also, diabetes will go completely off after your pregnancy is over and your baby is out.
The blood sugar becomes normal mostly after the pregnancy, however, there are also certain complications. Gestational diabetes if ignored can lead you to a complete state of lack of insulin in your body.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Most often, the symptoms are not experienced by women. The symptom is visible after the sixth month only. However, you may go through the following –
• Often thirsty
• Excess urination
• Tiredness
• Dried mouth
• Pigmentation
• Eating too much than normal
When to seek medical attention
It is suggested to see your doctor once before family planning to know if you are perfectly fine to carry a healthy baby.
Also, during your pregnancy, visit your doctor for regular check-ups to know if have diabetes issues.
Following are the common causes of gestational diabetes in your body –
• Overweight
• Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy
• Inactive lifestyle
• If you have been diabetic in your previous pregnancies, then you may get it again
• PCOD / PCOS issues
• Family history
• High blood sugar
Complications associated with you and your baby –
• You may not have a normal delivery and you have to go through C – a section delivery.
• You may be a Permanent diabetic
• You can give birth to a still child
• Premature baby
• Excess weight of the baby
• Respiratory diseases
• Hypoglycaemia
Prevention for gestational diabetes
You need not do something very extra to prevent yourself from GD. You only need to do the following things to stay untouched from diseases –
• Exercise is a must. This is not only for pregnant women but for every human being
• Have a proper diet. Eat dry fruits, raw fruits, and green leafy vegetables. Keep your plate full of colourful foods.
• Maintain your weight
• Stick to yoga and meditation
Myths created about gestational diabetes –
Fact – this was true till our parents generation. But now every 1 out of 5 pregnant lady suffer this and GSD has now biome quite common in this era.
Fact – its not necessary , GSD may leave your body but it can give you permanent type 2 diabetes if you haven’t taken care of yourself well during pregnancy.
Fact – eating sweet and sugar is a major reason of getting diabetes but it is not the only reason. You suffer due to many factors like your lifestyle , surrounding , environmental exposures and others.
Fact – its not necessary. Any pregnant lady can suffer GD. However , chances are higher in obese women’s.
Fact – there may be higher chances if you have family history of GD. But if you have taken care of yourself very well all your life and during pregnancy , then its not necessary that you would get GD just because of your family history and you can remain untouched and safe by it.
How do doctors diagnose gestational diabetes ?
Doctors diagnose your gestational diabetes by screening tests. Some of the tests they need include –
• Initial glucose challenge test
In this test, a glucose solute syrup is provided to drink and then a blood sample is taken to check your sugar level and know your diabetes.
• Follow-up glucose tolerance test
Here, the glucose test is taken every single hour for at least three hours. The result is declared as positive only if at least two of the test is diabetic positive.
Treatments –
Treatments for gestational diabetes include –
• OTC Medications to manage sugar kevel and gain enough insulin. The two common medicines provided by doctors include glyburide and metformin. Please do not have any without your doctor’s prescription.
• Blood sugar monitoring after every meal
• Eating nutritious foods with low-fat foods
• Go for a regular check-up
Frequently asked questions –
Answer – pregnant women residing in Africa , America , Asia and Hispanic have higher chances of occurring gestational diabetes in themselves.
Answer – gestational diabetes is not fatal in most of the cases but it can give you still baby or it may lead to various fatal disease after pregnancy.
Answer – the mortality rate of GD is 100 per 1000 patient.
Answer – yes , you must not ignore GD in your body or it can harm you harshly as well as your child also.
Answer – it is quite common as rate of still birth child is 45% in the past years.
Answer – yes , breastfeeding to your baby is completely safe and it have no connection with your gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Answer – non, GD is not a contagious disease.
Answer – GD usually leaves your body after your pregnancy . But if you have GD , you should not wait for let your pregnancy get over as it can cause serious complications in your pregnancy. So , if you have GD , get proper treatment for it.
