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Gestational diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that is first recognized during pregnancy. About 7% of all pregnant women in the U.S. are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Most women who have gestational diabetes give birth to healthy babies, especially when they control their blood sugar, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and keep a healthy weight.

Diagnosis

A glucose screening test is usually performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, which involves drinking a glucose drink followed by measurement of glucose levels after a one-hour interval.
If this test shows an increased blood sugar level, another test will be performed after a few days of following a special diet. The second test also involves drinking a glucose drink, and results are measured at three-hour intervals.

Causes

As the pregnancy progresses, the mother’s energy needs increase. Coupled with this, the placenta produces hormones that help the baby grow and develop. These hormones also block the action of the mother’s insulin. This is called insulin resistance. The pregnant woman needs extra insulin so the glucose can get from the blood into the cells where it is used for energy. From about 24 weeks, insulin needs in pregnancy can be two or three times higher than normally required. If the body is unable to meet this requirement, then diabetes develops. When the pregnancy is over and the insulin needs return to normal, the diabetes usually disappears.

Symptoms

Generally, gestational diabetes does not cause any symptoms. Subtle signs, such as fatigue or excessive thirst and urination, may sometimes occur, but many women without gestational diabetes also experience these changes late in pregnancy. Because the condition cannot be diagnosed on the basis of the mother’s symptoms, glucose testing must be done to detect it.

Cure and Treatment

The cure for gestational diabetes is the cessation of those hormones that block it. This only happens when the patient gives birth, which may be several weeks from the time it was detected. Women who are predisposed should be checked early for their levels of glucose, lest they be affected by gestational diabetes. If you are diagnosed to have gestational diabetes, you are advised to lower down your blood glucose levels by eating a healthy diet. This means that the carbohydrates that you eat should be limited to be able to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Exercise is also suggested as part of the daily routine to lower blood sugar although it is not recommended in high risk pregnancies. The glucose levels in the blood should be monitored at least three times a day, after every meal. For those taking insulin, they also have to test themselves before meals to be able to keep blood glucose levels normal.

A cure for Diabetes has not been found yet.  However, it can be controlled. Ways to control diabetes are: maintaining blood glucose levels, blood fat levels and weight.  Controlling diabetes is very important and should be supervised by a medical doctor.  When diabetes is controlled, it will help prevent serious complications such as: infections, kidney damage, eye damage, nerve damage to feet and heart disease.

Gestational diabetes is no different from other variations of this health disorder. The only difference is that it occurs to women at the time of pregnancy and is harmful for the life getting nurtured inside the mother. High blood level in the sugar is the main effect of this form of diabetes, which can trigger other harmful health issues. The restricted production of insulin is the main culprit for this type of diabetes as well. This happens because of sudden gain of weight and hormonal modifications for a would-be mother.

The symptoms of this form of diabetes include increase in thirst and also, the frequent urination. The pregnancy-related hormones elevate their production, thereby leaving little scope and space for insulin. The second trimester of pregnancy can further enhance this problem, while third trimester can make it worst. However, unlike other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes is easily treatable and resides in your body for short period of time. Here are few recommendations for taking care while experiencing this disorder.

Prevention is the Ultimate Solution

If you are gathering information about pregnancy and related problems in the very first trimester, you will surely encounter the mention of gestational diabetes. Thus, you can learn the preventive measure to prohibit the existence of this problem. Here are few tips for this:

1-If you already have excessive weight, you should make efforts to reduce it in the first month of pregnancy. With the passage of time, you are bound to gain more pounds and thus, it is better to shed away the existing fat.

2-Healthy diet, which contributes less towards fat and sugar, can help you avoid gestational diabetes.

3-Your involvement in physical work and recommended exercises can also help you remain slim and shut all gates for gestational diabetes.

4-Don’t forget to consult your doctor for learning other useful preventive measures for this problem.

However, if you have already entered the phase, where prevention will not serve the purpose, you need to learn following tips to take good care of yourself against gestational diabetes.

Monitor the Sugar Level

Keeping a constant eye on the sugar level achieved by your blood can help you to reduce the symptoms of gestational diabetes. For this, you can fix regular appointments with your doctor, or you can avail specially designed devices for blood monitoring at home. Get specific advice and suggestions about these devices from experts.

Consuming Less Calories and Burning More

You must maintain appropriate level of calories in your body, which will help in retaining only sufficient amount of sugar. For this, you should re-plan your diet with the help of your dietician and also learn special pregnancy exercises to burn the calories. Burning calories can help you body to consume surplus sugar accumulated and thus, keep gestational diabetes away from you.

Recommended Medicines for Cure

Insulin injections or other types of medicines are available for curing gestational diabetes. However, it is strictly advised to learn about them from your doctor. This will ensure good health for you and your baby.

Gestational diabetes can threaten you and the new life coming in the world through you. Thus, make sure you learn all these things and get prepared for a healthy pregnancy period.

To Your Health!

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. It is one of the top health complications that a woman has to face during pregnancy. Indeed a double curse!

If the woman had gestational diabetes during pregnancy then she is most likely to pass it on to the child. So, if a woman has gestational diabetes during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child. Timely knowledge about this condition, goes to control it effectively by diet and exercise. After the baby is born, the mother and the child both recoup their original health.

One problem gives room for a series of problems. The major risk is the birth of a fat baby. The condition is known as macrosomia. The baby by birth will have its own problems, the common one being damage to its shoulders during birth.

Some basic precautions have to be taken to prevent the risk of gestational diabetes. It is taking recourse to natural methods again! Make it a point to lose weight, if you are overweight. Be careful and choosy about your food, and above all, do exercises regularly. This type of diabetes is a temporary condition, a passing phase, that occurs during pregnancy.

There is another risk for the baby. It may develop breathing problems.

The exact causes of the gestational diabetes are not known yet. But there are certain clues and possibilities, why gestational diabetes occurs! It is insulin resistance.

The baby, as it grows, is supported by the placenta. Hormones help the baby develop. But the hormones also do a damaging act. They block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. The mother’s body finds it hard to use insulin, so her requirement of insulin goes up by 300 % and gestational diabetes is the result!

Utmost care is needed to combat gestational diabetes, as it concerns the health of the mother as well as that of the baby. Food choices are of paramount importance. This will have beneficial effects on the health of your baby’s growth. If you are fit and healthy, the risk of cesarean section birth can also be avoided.

In many cases, it has been found that gestational diabetes leads to type II diabetes later.

Do exercises regularly even during pregnancy, but only after consulting your doctor. This is the formative period for you as well as for the baby. Proper exercises provide strength to your body and act favorably for the growth of the baby within.

Shut the door on the face of the diabetes, even if it pleads that it is only gestation. This evil does not deserve mercy.