Symptoms and Treatment of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition which arises during pregnancy, and is characterized by a higher presence than normal of glucose in the bloodstream. Scientists believe that this increased level of sugar in the blood results when hormones from the placenta inhibit the action of the mother's insulin in her body.
This insulin resistance, as it is known, makes the body much less efficient at converting glucose into energy, and the glucose then remains in the bloodstream in excess amounts. This in turn, requires additional amounts of insulin in order to achieve the body's normal conversion of glucose to energy.
It is estimated that as many as 10% of all births in this country are attended by symptoms of gestational diabetes, and that figure is expected to rise.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Some of the most common symptoms of gestational diabetes are nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, especially in women who already have high blood pressure or began their pregnancies overweight. This category of women are more at risk for developing the symptoms, and when they do appear, the symptoms are more likely to be attributable to gestational diabetes.
Blurred vision and an almost constant thirst are symptoms that do not generally affect most women during pregnancy, so these may also indicate that the mother is troubled with gestational diabetes.
Another indicator can be weight loss when it is coupled with increased appetite, since the normal trend under those circumstances would be toward a gain of weight.
Frequently occurring infections is one more indication that gestational diabetes may be present in the mother.
If any combination of these symptoms becomes apparent during pregnancy, it should be discussed immediately with a pregnancy care doctor or obstetrician, so that further tests can be taken to determine if gestational diabetes is present. Most pregnancies will still go on to be normal and successful births, but it is always best to be aware of such medical conditions so they can be accounted for and treated if necessary during the pregnancy.
Managing the Symptoms
By far the most important aspect of overcoming gestational diabetes is keeping a stable level of blood sugar. Maintaining a proper diet can be a big help in this regard, as well as limiting the amount of processed sugar and fat intake consumed.
Fruits, vegetables, grains, breads, and proteins should be emphasized over other foods, and should be combined with regular light exercise to maintain an appropriate level of fitness, and to discourage excessive weight gain. When dietary management is not enough to keep blood sugar levels in check, some form of insulin treatment may be necessary as prescribed by a physician.
These lifestyle changes are usually enough to forestall the effects of gestational diabetes, but in some stubborn cases, further monitoring may be required if the blood sugar condition persists because this frequently leads to an over-sized baby. When excess sugar remains in the bloodstream, it is passed onto the fetus, where it is stored as fat and adds to the baby's birth weight. Added birth weight can increase the likelihood of complications during birth, so it is a situation best avoided if possible.
In pregnancies where gestational diabetes is present, both mother and baby will probably be monitored for a time following the birth to determine that the symptoms have subsided and that no danger exists for mother or child.
The most important thing to realize about gestational diabetes is that early detection will allow for the best treatment program and will give the best chance for a normal and healthy baby to be born, with no complications.
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