However, if these changes don't lower your blood sugar levels enough, you will need to take medicine as well. This may be tablets or insulin injections. You'll also be more closely monitored during your pregnancy and birth to check for any potential problems.
If you have gestational diabetes, it's best to give birth before 41 weeks. Induction of labour or a caesarean section may be recommended if labour does not start naturally by this time. Earlier delivery may be recommended if there are concerns about your or your baby's health or if your blood sugar levels have not been well controlled.
Find out more about how gestational diabetes is treated. Gestational diabetes normally goes away after birth. But women who've had it are more likely to develop:.
You should have a blood test to check for diabetes 6 to 13 weeks after giving birth, and once every year after that if the result is normal. See your GP if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst, needing to pee more often than usual, and a dry mouth — do not wait until your next test.
You should have the tests even if you feel well, as many people with diabetes do not have any symptoms. You'll also be advised about things you can do to reduce your risk of getting diabetes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
Some research has suggested that babies of mothers who had gestational diabetes may be more likely to develop diabetes or become obese later in life. If you've had gestational diabetes before and you're planning to get pregnant, make sure you get checked for diabetes. Your GP can arrange this. Gestational Diabetes. Reviewed: December 3, Medically Reviewed.
According to Harvard Health, signs and symptoms associated with gestational diabetes include:. Gestational diabetes can increase your baby's risk for: high birth weight, delivery complications, and cesarean delivery. It can also cause post-delivery issues for your child, like low blood glucose, respiratory problems, and neonatal jaundice.
Is gestational diabetes caused by diet? Gestational diabetes is due mainly to hormonal shifts during pregnancy. Other changes, such as eating more, exercising less, and having larger fat deposits, can contribute to insulin resistance while you're pregnant.
What are the warning signs of gestational diabetes? If symptoms do show up, they may include frequent urination, increased thirst, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, blurred vision, and yeast infections. Does drinking a lot of water help with gestational diabetes? Staying hydrated is a healthy move for anyone, including women managing gestational diabetes.
For women with gestational diabetes, staying hydrated can specifically help prevent overeating, which is an important aspect of managing this disease. Do mothers with gestational diabetes deliver early? Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are at risk for premature delivery. While most women with the condition have a full-term pregnancy, if there are complications, labor may need to be induced early. Insulin resistance in pregnant women is due mainly to hormonal changes, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
These changes allow the growing fetus access to more nutrients. Numerous factors raise a pregnant woman's risk of developing gestational diabetes, including:. For women who are at a higher risk, screening for gestational diabetes may happen earlier on, typically at the first prenatal visit, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In most instances, gestational diabetes is short term, with blood sugar levels reverting to normal once pregnancy ends in more than three-quarters of women who develop the condition, according to Harvard Health. The American Diabetes Association ADA recommends the following targets for women testing blood sugar levels during pregnancy:.
Gestational diabetes can lead to a number of complications for both mother and baby, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. These include:. Gestational diabetes is fairly common in the United States, with the ADA reporting that nearly 10 percent of pregnancies are affected by the condition each year.
Diabetes during pregnancy has been increasing in recent years. According to the CDC, the percentage of pregnant women with gestational diabetes rose 56 percent from to Additionally, the percentage of women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes before pregnancy increased 37 percent over that time.
A previous study found that the prevalence of gestational diabetes varied by race and ethnicity, and was lowest for non-Hispanic whites at 4. Certain racial and ethnic groups are also at a higher risk of developing future health problems as a result of gestational diabetes compared with white people who have the disease.
According to the aforementioned study, in Hispanic women the risk for future diabetes after gestational diabetes was more than double compared with their white counterparts. Prediabetes is a serious health condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated but are not high enough to qualify as diabetes. It puts you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease , and stroke, according to the CDC.
Women with a history of gestational diabetes and their children are at a higher risk of developing prediabetes, the Mayo Clinic reports. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index BMI of 30 or greater. Obesity is an important risk factor for gestational diabetes, so women who are obese are screened for gestational diabetes earlier in pregnancy and may be screened again later in pregnancy, as well, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG.
Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS is a hormonal disorder that can lead to the development of cysts in the ovaries. Women with PCOS are often insulin resistant, meaning their bodies can create insulin but cannot use it effectively. This puts them at a greater risk for both gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Postpartum Depression is another potential concern for women with gestational diabetes. A study published in the journal Depression and Anxiety involving more than , women found gestational diabetes women with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of postpartum depression.
Furthermore, for women who had a past depressive episode, having gestational diabetes made it 70 percent more likely they would develop postpartum depression. Women With Gestational Diabetes This project from the International Diabetes Federation IDF , an umbrella organization of more than diabetes associations in countries, offers articles, as well as video guides on insulin , healthy eating , and blood glucose monitoring.
Favorite App for Gestational Diabetes mySugr This app acts as a reliable companion to aid management of gestational diabetes. Premature birth. This is birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Most women with GDM have a full-term pregnancy that lasts between 39 and 40 weeks.
But if there are complications with your pregnancy, you may need to have your labor induced before your due date. Inducing labor means your provider gives you medicine or breaks your water amniotic sac to make your labor begin.
Shoulder dystocia or other birth injuries also called birth trauma. It often happens when a baby is very large. It can cause serious injury to both mom and baby. Complications for moms caused by shoulder dystocia include postpartum hemorrhage heavy bleeding. For babies, the most common injuries are fractures to the collarbone and arm and damage to the brachial plexus nerves.
These nerves go from the spinal cord in the neck down the arm. They provide feeling and movement in the shoulder, arm and hand. This is the death of a baby in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes also can cause health complications for your baby after birth, including: Breathing problems, including respiratory distress syndrome also called RDS. Surfactant is a protein that keeps the small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Low blood sugar also called hypoglycemia Obesity later in life Diabetes later in life Are you at risk for gestational diabetes?
You had gestational diabetes or a baby with macrosomia in a past pregnancy. You have polycystic ovarian syndrome also called polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS. You have prediabetes. This means your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes. You have a parent, brother or sister who has diabetes.
How do you know if you have gestational diabetes? How is gestational diabetes treated? Here are two ways to do kick counts: Every day, time how long it takes for your baby to move ten times. If it takes longer than 2 hours, tell your provider. See how many movements you feel in 1 hour.
Do this three times each week. If the number changes, tell your provider. Your provider shows you how to check your blood sugar on your own. Keep a log that includes your blood sugar level every time you check it. Share the log with your provider at each checkup. Eat healthy foods. Eat three regular meals and two to three snacks each day. Have one of the snacks at night. Talk to your provider about the right kinds of foods to eat to help control your blood sugar. Do something active every day.
Try to get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity at least 5 days each week. Talk to your provider about activities that are safe during pregnancy, like walking. Walk for 10 to 15 minutes after each meal to help control your blood sugar. If you take medicine for diabetes, take it exactly as your provider tells you to. If you take insulin, your provider teaches you how to give yourself insulin shots. Some medicines can be harmful during pregnancy, so your provider may need to change them to ones that are safer for you and your baby.
Check your weight gain during pregnancy. Gaining too much weight or gaining weight too fast can make it harder to manage your blood sugar.
Talk to your provider about the right amount of weight to gain during pregnancy.
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