Gestational Diabetes
When you develop diabetes, or high blood sugar, during pregnancy, it is known as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Some of the risk factors for developing GDM include being older than 25, a family history of diabetes, having already had a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds and being Hispanic or African-American.
You may not have any symptoms, but if you do they might be blurred vision, fatigue, have frequent infections or increased thirst and urination. You may also have nausea and vomiting or unexplained weight loss.
The goal of treatment is to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level and to make sure your fetus is healthy. See you doctor for regular prenatal visits during your pregnancy.
Recently Answered
- Q Can gestational diabetes develop into another form of diabetes?
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Gestational diabetes is usually temporary and disappears after pregnancy. It does, however, place you and your baby at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. You can greatly reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising... Full Answer
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- Q Will gestational diabetes affect delivery?
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Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can cause complications that will affect the delivery of your baby. Babies born to women with unmanaged gestational diabetes can be larger than normal, which may result in birth injuries or require a C-section. Your baby... Full Answer
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- Q What are the causes of gestational diabetes?
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Changing hormones and weight gain are part of a healthy pregnancy. But both changes make it hard for your body to keep up with its need for a hormone called insulin. When that happens, your body doesn't get the energy it needs from the food you eat. And... Full Answer
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- Q If I have gestational diabetes, what are the risks for my baby?
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Blood glucose goals are tighter for pregnant women with gestational diabetes than for most people with type 2 diabetes. This is because of the harmful effects that too much glucose in the mother’s blood can have on the growing baby, as well as on... Full Answer
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- Q How should I change my diet if I have gestational diabetes?
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If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes the first therapy recommended is dietary modification. Approximately 1/2 of patients are able to control blood sugars with these modicifactions and do not need to go on to insulin or oral... Full Answer
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- Q Can gestational diabetes be prevented?
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You can help prevent the complications that can occur when gestational diabetes is left untreated. There are steps you can take before you become pregnant or early on in your pregnancy to help prevent or lessen the symptoms of these complications.... Full Answer
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- Q How can I maintain healthy blood sugar levels with gestational diabetes?
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What you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat all have a major impact on your blood glucose levels if you have gestational diabetes. Ask to see a dietitian who knows about diabetes. Together, you'll design a meal plan that can help you reach... Full Answer
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- Q How should I monitor my blood glucose if I have gestational diabetes?
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Keeping track of your blood glucose levels will tell you whether your diabetes treatment is working. Some women have their glucose levels checked regularly by their health care team. Many women check blood glucose on their own, using a blood... Full Answer
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- Q Why are some babies large who are born to women with diabetes?
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In the past, babies born to women with diabetes tended to be large. This problem, called macrosomia, was the baby’s response to having extra amounts of glucose from the mother’s blood. Macrosomia is less common, but sometimes the baby... Full Answer
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- Q When should I get checked for gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
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Your doctor will decide when you need to be checked for diabetes during your pregnancy, depending on your risk factors. If you are at high risk, your blood glucose level may be checked at your first prenatal visit. If your test results are normal, you... Full Answer
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