GESTATIONAL DIABETES PREGNANCY INDUCED DIABETES ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Gestational Diabetes is a condition where you develop high sugar levels during pregnancy. It makes your pregnancy a High Risk Pregnancy and if not properly taken care of , may lead to  complications  for the mother  as well as the baby. If diagnosed early and treated well by your doctor , there is nothing to  worry. Dr Amita Shah, is and expert in High risk Pregnancy Management and has successfully delivered these patients by Normal Delivery.

What is Gestational Diabetes-

If you develop Diabetes during the course of your pregnancy which you never had before pregnancy, it is called Gestational Diabetes or GDM. It happens because of the hormonal changes during pregnancy.

What is the reason for developing Gestational Diabetes –

Normally, the food that you consume after various processes is broken down into glucose in the body. This glucose is then utilised by the insulin produced by pancreas to be converted into sugar and energy that is used by our body. In some women, during pregnancy because of insufficient production of insulin or inadequate utilisation of glucose by the body , blood sugar level  rises  leading to  Gestational Diabetes. This happens because of hormonal changes during pregnancy.

Who can develop Gestational Diabetes / Who is at risk?

Anyone can develop Diabetes in pregnancy, but you are at greater risk if

  • You are more that 35 years of age
  • You are obese/your BMI is significantly high
  • hereditary factor – means there is family history of diabetes in your parents/grandparents
  • you are carrying twins/triplets
  • previous history of gestational diabetes
  • previous history of having a big baby /unexplained fetal loss
  • if you have high blood pressure

How do I know I have Gestational Diabetes?

Mostly there are no symptoms to suggest that you have Gestational diabetes. For all pregnant patients, the doctor will get the screening test for Diabetes at least three times during the pregnancy. The first screening test is generally done in the first trimester for high risk patients, otherwise around 20-24 weeks.

This  screening test is know as GCT (  Glucose challenge test ) – in this test, you are asked to drink 50 gms  of glucose  and blood sugar is tested after  1 hour and the blood sugar should  be less than 140. If the blood sugar is more, then you need to undergo another test –

GTT- ( Glucose Tolerance Test ) – In this test, you have to give one blood sample fasting and then drink 100 gms  of glucose and give two blood samples- one after one hour and second after  2  hours. Out of the three blood samples, if  two  are more than the normal , this confirms you have gestational Diabetes.

The normal sugar levels taken are Fasting- 90-100

Post 2 hours 120-130

How can Gestational Diabetes Affect my Pregnancy and Baby

If you are sugars and diabetes is well controlled, you will deliver a healthy baby and  have a  uneventful pregnancy . But, if Diabetes is uncontrolled, it can lead to

  • Macrosomia/ large Baby – this happens because of excess sugar going to the baby, leading to increase  in weight of the baby  and especially deposition of fat in the upper part of the baby.  It is like overfeeding the baby. This leads to
  • Difficulty in Normal Delivery leading to Shoulder Dystocia.
  • Increases chances of Caesarean Delivery
  • increases risk of Preterm delivery
  • Hypoglycemia of the baby after birth- this happens because baby still produces more insulin as it was when in utero in response to more sugars it was getting from the mother. After delivery, this stops and babys blood glucose levels drop dangerously.
  • Respiratory problems – babies born to Gestational Diabetic mothers face respiratory distress  because  of late maturation of
  • New born Jaundice – Babies born to Gestational Diabetes mothers, have higher chance of developing jaundice after birth.
  • There  is increased incidence of still birth. babies dying inutero because of  high sugars in the mother
  • Obesity and higher Chance of getting Diabetes in future – kids born to mothers with Gestational Diabetes have higher chance of developing obesity, being overweight and are more likely to develop  diabetes in future.

How is gestational Diabetes treated

your doctor will put  you on a strict Diabetic diet, which is completely no  sugar and low  carbohydrate. You will have to take small frequent meals and avoid large meals in order to keep the sugars low. It is very important to do some walking after each meal as it helps to keep your post meal sugars low. With Diet and exercise, you should aim to keep your weight gain in control.

Incase, the diet and exercise do not help to keep your blood sugars in check, your doctor will have to put you on medicines for Diabetes. In pregnancy, most of the Oral antidibaetic  drugs cannot be given , so you will have to be put on Insulin. Taking an insulin is easy and can be done at home by yourself. You will also have to monitor your blood sugar levels  regularly.

How can I prevent Gestational Diabetes

Unfortunately there is no clear-cut ways to prevent gestational diabetes. But if  you  eat healthy, exercise regularly and  maintain a correct BMI before conceiving, you  do  lessen the chance of developing Gestational Diabetes.

Will I continue to have Diabetes Post delivery?

In most women, the blood sugar levels come down to normal levels in 6-8  weeks. However in about 20-30% women, there may still be some impaired glucose tolerance, meaning higher chances of sugar levels being high , eventually developing into full blown Diabetes.

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