Gestational diabetes: Why does it happen?

The article was consulted professionally by Specialist Doctor II Pham Thi Xuan Minh – Obstetrics and Gynecology Department – Share99 Hai Phong International Health Hub.

Gestational diabetes is a disease that causes many dangerous complications for both mother and child. Understanding the disease as well as the cause of the disease will help pregnant women reduce the risk of contracting the disease. In addition, early detection and timely intervention will help to significantly reduce complications.

1. What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels increase during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects 10% of pregnant women in the US each year.

There are two types of gestationaldiabetes , including: type 1 gestational diabetes and type 2 gestational diabetes. Pregnant women with type 1 gestational diabetes can control the disease through diet and exercise. Pregnant women with type 2 diabetes need insulin or other medications to treat the disease.

Gestational diabetes will usually cured after you give birth. However, the disease can affect a child's health and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

2. Signs of gestational diabetes

Symptoms of gestational diabetes are usually nons specific so the disease is often detected when the pregnant woman undertatrasies perform a routine checkup.

Some common signs of gestational diabetes include:

  • You feel thirsty more than usual
  • You are hungry and eat more than usual
  • You urinate more times than usual.

Diet for pregnant women with kidney disease during pregnancy

Pregnant mother who regularly feels hungry is a sign of gestational diabetes

3. Causes of gestational diabetes

When you eat, the pancreas will carry out the release of insulin, a hormone that helps move a sugar called glucose from the blood to the cells in the body, while using it to generate energy.

During pregnancy, your placenta produces hormones that cause glucose to accumulate in the blood. Normally, the pancreas can produce enough insulin to handle this condition, however when the body does not produce the necessary amount of insulin or stops using insulin as usual, the blood sugar level will increase and this is the cause of pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

The demand for energy in the go-to period is higher so the demand for sugar will also increase. However, your body does not always produce enough insulin to suit the need to increase sugar levels during pregnancy.

In addition, during pregnancy, to help the fetus develop, the placenta produces hormones. These hormones can have a negative effect on insulin, causing a state of end hormones. This is also the reason why you are at high risk of gestational diabetes.

Besides, there are a number of factors that put you at increased risk for diabetes during pregnancy, including:

  • Overweight, obese while pregnant

pregnant obese

Pregnant mother appears obese while pregnant
  • Have higher blood sugar than necessary but not high enough to have diabetes (this is called pre-diabetes)
  • There are family members with diabetes
  • Had gestational diabetes during her previous pregnancy
  • Pregnant women with high blood pressure
  • Used to give birth to babies with a weight of over 4kg
  • Have had a baby with birth defects or died prematurely
  • Pregnant women over 25 years old.

4. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy. Your doctor will check between weeks 24 and 28 or maybe earlier if you are at high risk.

Your doctor will order you to perform a test to check your blood sugar levels. If the results show that your blood sugar level is higher than a certain level, usually about 200 milligrams per decilite (mg / dL), you will need an oral glucose tolerance test. This means checking your blood sugar levels when there is no food and taking a glucose test after 3 hours.

If you are at high risk but your test results are normal, your doctor may check back later for a period of time to make sure you don't have diabetes.

Blood grabbing

Gestational diabetes diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test

5. Treatment of gestational diabetes

If you have gestational diabetes, early treatment will be good for both mother and baby. Your doctor will do some of the following:

  • Check blood sugar levels about 4 times a day
  • Urine test for ketones
  • Follow a healthy diet.

Your doctor will regularly monitor your baby's weight and development, and may provide you with insulin or another medication to control blood sugar levels.

The American Diabetes Association recommends these goals specifically for pregnant women to check blood sugar levels:

  • Before meals: 95 mg / dL or less
  • One hour after meal: 140 mg / dL or less
  • Two hours after meals: 120 mg / dL or less.

In addition, when suffering from diabetes during pregnancy, pregnant women need to change their diet and practice physical exercise, including:

  • Follow a healthy, low-sugar diet: Follow an eating plan exclusively for people living with diabetes. Consult your doctor to make sure you are getting the full range of nutrients you need. Instead of opting for sugary snacks such as biscuits, candy and ice cream, you can use some other products such as fruits, carrots or raisins, adding to your diet of greens and cereals.

Expert nutrition

Pregnant mother can consult a doctor for a scientific diet
  • Exercise throughout pregnancy: you should exercise as soon as possible. Aim to practice physical exercise for about 30 minutes a day. Running, walking, swimming and cycling are all good options, of course you need to do it gently.

Gestational diabetes usually begins at the beginning of the third trimepcle. However, if you have some high risk factors, your doctor may recommend an early glucose test, which may be at the end of the first trimep month. This is done again between the 24th-28th week of pregnancy and if the result is negative then you will not need to re-test.

Share99 International Health Hub is the address that many families choose to visit during their pregnancy. In particular, when the pregnant mother chooses the Package Maternity Care Program from the beginning of pregnancy from the first months of pregnancy, she will be fully participated in pregnancy examinations, 3D ultrasound, 4D periodically and routine tests to ensure the mother is always healthy and the fetus develops comprehensively.

Obstetrics and gynecology will be consulted and checked under the close supervision of experienced and professional obstetrician, helping mothers have more knowledge to protect their health during pregnancy as well as minimize complications affecting mothers and children.

Dr. Pham Thi Xuan Minh has 30 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, especially in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, specializing in handling many serious and difficult surgeries.

For direct advice, please click hotline number or register online HERE. In addition, you can register for remote consultation HERE

SEE MORE:

  • Foods to eat and should abstain from gestational diabetes
  • Diet for people with gestational diabetes
  • What to do with gestational diabetes?

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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