Gestational diabetes what you need to know about the disease

Gestational diabetes what you need to know about the disease

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs when pregnant women have high blood sugar. This happens when the body is not able to use insulin properly. The most common cause for gestational diabetes is obesity, but it can also affect people who are not overweight. This condition has some major side effects that can impact both the mom and baby. Some of these include preeclampsia, which is when the woman develops high blood pressure during pregnancy, and babies with birth defects. Gestational diabetes also impacts how quickly your baby will grow in your womb.

What causes gestational diabetes?

There are many causes for gestational diabetes, and it is often caused by the placenta. Your placenta makes glucose for your baby. When you become pregnant, your body cannot make enough glucose, so it requires the placenta to make it for you. As your baby grows in the womb, your blood sugar becomes elevated. People often think of this as “normal” and do not worry about it. If it continues, however, you should talk to your doctor. Gestational diabetes vs. type 2 diabetes Some women think gestational diabetes is the same as type 2 diabetes. They are two very different types of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is when a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes. The term for type 2 diabetes is type 2 diabetes mellitus.

What are the side effects of gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes can cause a lot of symptoms for both you and your baby, but some are more serious than others. If your blood sugar is out of control, you will experience a host of other health problems including: Rapid weight gain. Your baby needs blood glucose to grow, so if your blood sugar gets out of control you could experience some dangerous growth issues. Your baby needs blood glucose to grow, so if your blood sugar gets out of control you could experience some dangerous growth issues. High blood pressure. When your blood sugar gets too high, it puts a lot of pressure on your blood vessels, which can then cause high blood pressure in the rest of your body.

How does gestational diabetes affect the baby?

If your baby does have gestational diabetes, he may be smaller than average. Smaller babies are at a higher risk for birth defects. Most babies are born with a body temperature that is below 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is normal. A baby’s heart rate should be between 140 and 160 beats per minute. A blood sugar reading of under 100 milligrams per deciliter is considered normal. To be considered elevated, the normal reading should be at least 120 mg/dl, or five times the normal level. Once you reach a blood sugar level of 150 mg/dl or higher, the doctor will give you advice on how to manage your blood sugar levels. What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?

How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?

Diagnosing gestational diabetes is actually pretty easy. Just ask your doctor to check your blood sugar levels with a fasting blood glucose test, a 2-hour, 2-hg glucose test or an A1C test. An A1C test is a blood test that measures average glucose levels in the blood. The A1C test looks for your average blood glucose levels over the past few months. They can range from 5 to 7.5, with 6.5 being the most common reading. You can also ask your doctor to check your urine for ketones, a molecule that the body makes in response to high levels of glucose. What are some symptoms of gestational diabetes? Many women experience the warning signs of gestational diabetes.

How can you treat this condition?

There are ways that you can treat this condition, but there are also things that can worsen it. So, if you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, here is what you need to know. -Doctors will usually start by checking your blood sugar level. -The doctor will check to make sure the levels are in the normal range. -If the doctor does not find the numbers to be within the range of normal, they will give you some sort of medicine to help the symptoms. -For gestational diabetes, you will have to eat smaller meals throughout the day, even during your pregnancies. -It’s very important for pregnant women to stay away from foods that are high in fat or sugar. -Avoiding these foods may also help the baby’s growth. -Talk to your doctor about getting this checked out.

Conclusion

Doctors are now beginning to diagnose gestational diabetes early and getting treatments that work. Although gestational diabetes is still linked to birth defects, it is usually treated and mothers don’t need insulin after the birth of their baby.