PREGNANCY TYPE DIABETES: AN OVERVIEW

Also known as gestational diabetes, pregnancy type diabetes is a condition that develops especially during pregnancy. This happens when the expecting mother has an abnormally high level of sugar in her blood. Most of the times, it resolves itself after delivery unlike other forms of diabetes that are lifelong conditions.  According to general survey, almost 4% of all pregnant women suffer from this.

How is it caused????

Diabetes is a problem for all the people who have lesser receptivity to insulin than others but a major reason for this pregnancy type diabetes is late pregnancy. Another is obesity. Also, if the expecting mother has been through a previous pregnancy where she delivered a baby weighing 9 pounds or more is more receptive to it. It is basically caused due to the hormones produced in a woman’s body reducing the insulin, leading to the problem of high sugar. An expecting mother needs almost three times of insulin to convert starch for more energy. When her body is unable to cope with the demand, she suffers from the gestational diabetes.

Symptoms

Major symptoms that signify this type of diabetes include increased thirst, increased urination tendency, a feeling of tiredness at all times, nausea, and vomiting. Many a times, she also suffers from blurred vision, bladder infection, and yeast infection.

Effect on pregnancy

·         As this can be controlled carefully, the effect of gestational diabetes on the baby is really decided by your own self. If you control your diet carefully, and take proper care of yourself, you will ensure a healthy pregnancy for yourself

·         Many a times, increase in the sugar levels of the blood may result In making the baby large. This makes the delivery and labor time much difficult for the expecting mother increasing her chances of caesarean section. This increases his/her chances of being jaundiced or has breathing problems.

·         Another commonly believed but not exactly proved effect is that the babies born during gestational diabetes are more prone to diabetes in their adult life. Also, They are more likely to develop obesity in their later life.

·         Babies who are born to the mothers suffering from gestational diabetes also run a greater risk of having health problems. This is specially the case when the pre-pregnancy period has been a poorly controlled one.

Who is at risk???

Women who have already suffered from pregnancy type diabetes during their earlier babies stand at the greater risk than others. Also, those having their BMI greater than 31 or are older than average stand at a risk of developing this condition. The tendency of suffering from this condition also depends upon the expecting mother’s previous medical history to a large extent.

 Treatment

To solve this problem, the pregnant woman should follow a proper treatment plan as advised by her doctor or physician. Cutting down on sugary foods and caffeine containing f\drinks goes a long way in avoiding this problem. Taking a light exercise as per your physician’s advice also helps in controlling the sugar levels of your blood. There are some women who need to be prescribed insulin injections if they suffer from a severe type of gestational diabetes. Whatever may be the case, you should never forget to get frequent ultrasounds done to ensure a healthy progress for your baby.

Thus, if you take proper care of yourself and your unborn baby, you are more than likely going to pass your pregnancy period with a minimum of problems and worry. This pregnancy type diabetes is mostly a temporary phase and the blood sugar levels revert back to normal just a few hours delivery.

Summary

Women suffering from pregnancy type diabetes, or gestational diabetes, should take appropriate care of themselves as this is mostly a temporary phase and will pass on with the delivery o the baby.