Signs of Gestational Diabetes with Pregnancy-Related Toxicity
Healthful Vitality | 10/24/2021 | Signs of Gestational Diabetes with Pregnancy-Related Toxicity.
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is first diagnosed during the second half of pregnancy, that is, after 24 weeks. Usually, suppose diabetes is identified in early pregnancy. In that case, it means the person was already living with type 2 diabetes and was just unaware of it.
Gestational diabetes generally develops during pregnancy and is reversed after a child’s birth. Nonetheless, those diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. CDC data indicates that each year 2 to 10% of pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes.
Why gestational diabetes occurs?
It is not fully understood by science. Nonetheless, it is not difficult to guess that it is caused by widespread hormonal and metabolic changes in the body.
One of the reasons could be that the body needs a higher amount of most hormones, including insulin, during pregnancy. However, some women develop insulin resistance in reaction to these higher insulin levels.
Health effects of gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is about insulin resistance. It means that body is unable to utilize insulin efficiently. Therefore, the pancreas starts producing more insulin to ensure that blood glucose remains normal. However, this high insulin level causes the fetus to grow too large. Elevated insulin and glucose levels have other adverse effects, too.
Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to have caesarian, high blood pressure, premature rupture of membranes, higher blood loss during childbirth. In addition, many women diagnosed with gestational diabetes would develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Signs of gestational diabetes
Identifying gestational diabetes is challenging. Many women may confuse signs of gestational diabetes with pregnancy-related toxicity.
Gestational diabetes would have early signs similar to other types of diabetes:
- Difficult to quench thirst or frequent urge to drink
- Peeing more often than normal
- Dryness of mouth
- Fatigue that cannot be explained by pregnancy
Since most of these signs may also occur due to other causes too, the only dependable way of identifying gestational diabetes is getting tested. Thus, these days most women would be tested for gestational diabetes between 24 to 28 weeks.
Managing gestational diabetes
As one can guess, managing gestational diabetes is challenging, as the safety of most antidiabetic oral drugs is not proven in pregnancy. Thus, in most cases, doctors would try to manage the condition without pharmacological medications. Below are few natural ways to control gestational diabetes:
- Consult a dietitian to ensure that diet is nutrition dense and yet low in fast-absorbing carbs
- Check blood sugar levels regularly to understand the severity of the condition
- Eat smaller portions but more frequently, like six times a day
- Stay active. Exercises like brisk walking may help reduce insulin resistance
- Monitor baby’s growth
If things do not change, doctors may prescribe medications or even insulin. Usually, when drugs are taken in the second half of pregnancy, they are less likely to cause harm to a baby. Additionally, it is not rare for doctors to induce childbirth earlier at 41 weeks or recommend cesarean.