What Is Gestational Diabetes and Why Does It Occur?
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes which was raised up for the first time during pregnancy (gestation). As other types of diabetes are concerned, gestational diabetes affects the procedure our cells use sugar (glucose). Gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar that can highly affect the pregnancy and baby's health. While any complication regarding pregnancy is concerning, there is no good news. Expectant mothers can easily control gestational diabetes by eating healthy foods, exercising and, if required, taking medication. Keeping the blood sugar in control can keep the mother and the baby healthy and stops a difficult delivery to take place.
Women affected with gestational diabetes, blood sugar generally returns to normal soon after delivery. But if the mother had gestational diabetes, she has a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The mother needs to get tested for changes in blood sugar more frequently.For many women, gestational diabetes doesn't produce any noticeable signs or symptoms. Increase in thirst and more-frequent urination are possible symptoms.
Gestational Diabetes Causes
The researchers haven’t yet found out the root cause of gestational diabetes . Some of the researchers say that the main gestational diabetes cause is the increase of weight of the women before the pregnancy . No other such gestational diabetes cause has been found out yet.
Generally, many hormones work up to keep the blood sugar levels at an optimum level.During pregnancy, hormone levels may increase and decrease , which makes it much harder for the mother’s body to breakdown blood sugar efficiently. This makes your blood sugar increase.
Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis
The doctor will give the mother a glucose examination or glucose screening test. The woman will be required to drink something sweet to raise your blood sugar. An hour later, the woman undergoes a blood test to see how her body has processed all that sugar. If the result of the test shows that her blood sugar is higher than a particular level, usually around 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), she will need an oral glucose tolerance test which means checking your blood sugar after going without food and having a 3-hour glucose test.
If she was at high risk but the undergone test results are normal, the doctor might test her again later in the timeline of pregnancy to make sure she still doesn't have it.
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
If the mother has gestational diabetes, the doctor needs to carry out the treatment as soon as possible to keep the mother and her baby healthy during her pregnancy and delivery. Your doctor will ask the mother to:
To check her blood sugar levels four or more times a day
To check her urine for ketones, chemicals that mean that her diabetes isn’t under control
To maintain a healthy diet.
To exercise and maintain it as a habit.
The doctor will continuously keep track of her weight and her baby’s development. Doctors might give her insulin or another medicine to keep her blood sugar under control. The gestational diabetes treatment is essential for the mother during pregnancy.
Risk Factors For Gestational Diabetes
Some women tend to have a greater risk to obtain gestational diabetes. Risk factors for gestational diabetes consist of the following:
Overweight and obesity are a major problem regarding women.
A lack of physical exercise.
Previous history of gestational diabetes or prediabetes.
Polycystic ovary syndrome can be a major risk factor for Gestational diabetes.
If the mother has a history of delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4.1 kilograms).
Nonwhite race — Women who are black, American Indian, Asian American and Pacific Islander and those of Hispanic descent have a much higher risk factor for gestational diabetes development.
Solved Example
Is Gestational Diabetes Caused by Diet?
A: Eating sugary foods generally , do not increase the risk for gestational diabetes. If any mother is diagnosed with gestational diabetes it will be important to manage her carbohydrate intake to best manage her blood sugar levels. This would include managing her intake of sugary foods.
Did You Know?
When researchers and doctors from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons studied the health data for 125 million US pregnancies for a study held in 2017 in the journal called BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the team made a surprising discovery: Rates of getting affected by gestational diabetes in pregnant mothers were 23 times higher in 2010 than in 1979.
FAQs on Gestational Diabetes: Key Facts, Symptoms & Management
1. What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops for the first time during pregnancy in women who did not have diabetes before. It occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin—a hormone essential for controlling blood sugar levels—to meet the extra needs of pregnancy. This leads to high blood sugar, which can affect both the mother's and the baby's health if not managed properly.
2. Why does gestational diabetes specifically occur during pregnancy?
Gestational diabetes occurs due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that help the baby grow, but these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance. As the pregnancy progresses, the demand for insulin increases. If the mother's pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, her blood sugar levels rise, resulting in gestational diabetes.
3. What are the common symptoms and warning signs of gestational diabetes?
Often, gestational diabetes has no noticeable symptoms, which is why screening is a routine part of prenatal care. When symptoms do occur, they are often mild and can be mistaken for normal pregnancy discomforts. Key signs to watch for include:
- Unusual or excessive thirst
- Frequent urination in large amounts
- Increased fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Frequent infections, such as those of the bladder, vagina, or skin
- Presence of sugar in the urine, detected during a routine check-up
4. How is gestational diabetes diagnosed in pregnant women?
Diagnosis typically involves a two-step process between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. The first step is a glucose challenge test, where you drink a sugary liquid and have your blood sugar level measured one hour later. If the level is high, a follow-up test called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is performed. For the OGTT, you will need to fast overnight and then have your blood sugar measured before and at multiple intervals after drinking a more concentrated glucose solution.
5. What are the primary ways to manage gestational diabetes?
The primary goal of managing gestational diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range for the well-being of both mother and baby. The main strategies include:
- Dietary Changes: Following a balanced diet plan that controls carbohydrate intake and focuses on whole grains, lean proteins, and vegetables.
- Regular Exercise: Engaging in moderate physical activity, like walking or swimming, for at least 30 minutes on most days helps the body use insulin more effectively.
- Blood Sugar Monitoring: Regularly checking blood sugar levels at home to ensure the management plan is working.
- Medication: If diet and exercise are not enough to control blood sugar, a doctor may prescribe medication, such as metformin or insulin injections.
6. How can gestational diabetes affect the baby?
If gestational diabetes is not well-managed, excess glucose in the mother's blood crosses the placenta, triggering the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin. This can lead to several complications:
- Excessive Birth Weight: The baby may grow much larger than normal (macrosomia), which can complicate delivery.
- Preterm Birth: High blood sugar levels can increase the risk of early labour and delivery.
- Breathing Difficulties: The baby may develop respiratory distress syndrome after birth.
- Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia): Right after birth, the baby may have low blood sugar because their own insulin production is high.
- Future Health Risks: The baby may have a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
7. Does gestational diabetes resolve after childbirth, and are there long-term health implications?
Yes, for most women, blood sugar levels return to normal soon after delivery. However, having gestational diabetes is a significant risk factor for future health issues. Women who have had it face a much higher risk—about a 50% chance—of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. It also increases the risk of developing gestational diabetes in future pregnancies. Regular postpartum check-ups and ongoing diabetes screening are crucial for long-term health management.
8. Is gestational diabetes caused by a mother's lifestyle choices?
Gestational diabetes is not caused by something the mother did wrong. It is fundamentally a result of the hormonal changes of pregnancy that cause insulin resistance. While certain lifestyle factors like being overweight before pregnancy or a lack of physical activity can increase the risk, they are not the direct cause. Many women with a healthy lifestyle still develop the condition, highlighting the primary role of pregnancy-related hormonal shifts.
9. What is the main difference between gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes?
The main difference lies in their onset and duration. Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy and typically resolves after the baby is born. It is caused by placental hormones interfering with insulin function. In contrast, type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that can develop at any time in life and does not go away. It is caused by the body either not producing enough insulin or not using it effectively, often linked to genetics and long-term lifestyle factors.
10. Can a woman have a healthy baby if she is diagnosed with gestational diabetes?
Absolutely. The vast majority of women with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and deliver healthy babies. The key is effective management. By closely following medical advice, monitoring blood sugar levels, adhering to a suitable diet, and getting regular exercise, the risks of complications can be significantly minimised. Timely diagnosis and proactive management are essential for a positive outcome.
