This diabetes type is usually diagnosed during pregnancy (gestation) and it is called gestational diabetes. This type negatively affects how the cells use sugar (glucose) as other diabetes types. However, this condition causes blood sugar levels to increase, which may impact the pregnancy and the baby’s health. Although any complications that occur during pregnancy are concerning, there are different ways to manage this diabetes type. For example, eating healthy foods, regular exercising, and medicines (when needed). If you ignore the symptoms and do not manage the gestational diabetes it may cause multiple health problems to an unborn baby and difficult delivery.
Generally, when this condition happens during pregnancy, blood sugar levels return to normal right after delivery. However, the risk of type 2 diabetes increases significantly in people with gestational diabetes. That’s why regular tests for changes in blood sugar are recommended after pregnancy.
Symptoms
In most cases, this diabetes type does not cause symptoms but you may feel increased thirst and frequent urination.
In normal circumstances, you should visit a doctor to determine the risk of gestational diabetes before pregnancy. Once a person is pregnant, doctors will perform tests for gestational diabetes as a prenatal care part.
People who develop this diabetes type require checkups more frequently, especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy because there is an increased risk of complications and a baby’s health problems to occur.
Causes
Healthcare providers still do not know why some pregnant women develop gestational diabetes while others do not. However, they think excess weight may play a role. Normally, there are different hormones that keep blood sugar levels within normal ranges but during pregnancy, women experience significant hormonal changes, which may make it difficult for the body to control blood sugar levels. Thus, the blood sugar levels increase.
Risk Factors
The following factors may increase your risk of developing gestational diabetes. Examples include:
- Obesity
- Prediabetes
- Lack of physical exercise
- Previous gestational diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Family history of diabetes
- The previous child has more than 9 pounds (4.1 kilograms) at birth
- Certain races and ethnicities (including Hispanic, American Indian, Asian American, and Black)
What Are The Potential Complications of Gestational Diabetes?
If the condition is not managed and leads to high sugar levels in the blood, which may cause serious problems for you and your baby (such as an increased risk of needing surgery to deliver).
Complications that may Impact the Baby
- Excessive birth weight – Elevated blood sugar levels may cause the baby to grow larger than usual. Therefore, if the baby’s weight is more than 9 pounds, there is an increased risk of becoming wedged in the birth canal and having birth injuries.
- Preterm (early) birth – Early labor and delivery before the due date may happen if the blood glucose levels are too high.
- Severe breathing problems – Those who are born early may develop respiratory distress syndrome, which causes breathing difficulties.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) – Some newborns have reduced blood sugar soon after birth. If the glucose levels drop too low, it may lead to seizures.
- Obesity and type 2 diabetes – Newborns are at higher risk of developing these conditions later in life if their biological mother has had gestational diabetes.
- Stillbirth – If you are not treating gestational diabetes, it may lead to the baby’s death shortly after birth.
Complications that Affect the Mother
- Hypertension and preeclampsia – If you develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy you are at higher risk of getting high blood pressure (hypertension) and preeclampsia.
- Surgical delivery (C-section)
- Future diabetes – Those who experience gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
How to Prevent Gestational Diabetes?
There are no sure ways to prevent this condition but the risk decreases if you adopt healthy habits before pregnancy. However, if you develop gestational diabetes, the following tips may help you prevent having it the second time as well as reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life. For example:
- Eat a well-balanced diet – These include foods rich in fiber and low in fat and calories. For example fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Regular physical activity – It is quite important to exercise before and during pregnancy because it helps to protect you against gestational diabetes. For instance, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of physical exercise per day.
- Begin pregnancy with a healthy weight – You should have a healthy weight when you plan to become pregnant. It will help prevent complications and generally have a healthier pregnancy.
- Avoid gaining more weight than is advised – Typically women get some weight during pregnancy but gaining more than is recommended increases significantly the risk of gestational diabetes.
Diagnosis
If you are at risk of developing gestational diabetes, doctors will perform screening tests during the second trimester (usually between 24 and 28 weeks) of pregnancy. In case you are at higher risk of developing this diabetes type (such as if you are overweight or obese before pregnancy), doctors will test you for diabetes early in pregnancy. Check below some routine screening for gestational diabetes:
- Initial glucose challenge test – This test involves drinking a syrup glucose solution and one hour later doctors will perform a blood test to measure sugar levels in the blood. If the blood sugar level is 190 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 10.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) it means you have gestational diabetes.
- Follow-up glucose tolerance testing – This test is very similar to the previous one but the only difference is that the sweet solution will have more sugar and blood tests to measure glucose levels in the blood will be performed once per hour for 3 hours. If at least 2 test results show high blood sugar levels, it indicates gestational diabetes.
Treatment
Healthcare providers usually recommend the following treatments for people with gestational diabetes. These include lifestyle changes, blood sugar monitoring, and medicines (when needed).
Lifestyle Changes
This treatment option involves how you eat and move, which is an important part of maintaining the blood sugar levels in a normal range. While physicians do not recommend losing weight during pregnancy because the body is working hard to support the baby’s growth, you can consult with a doctor about ways to lose weight before pregnancy. Check below some lifestyle changes:
- A well-balanced diet – These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. You should also limit carbohydrates and sweets.
- Regular physical exercise – Staying physically active may help reduce complications during and after pregnancy. It also helps to reduce some discomforts of pregnancy (such as back pain, muscle cramps, swelling, constipation, sleeping problems, and others) and reduce blood sugar levels.
With your healthcare provider’s approval, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day for at least 5 days a week. These include cycling, swimming, walking, housework, and gardening are good choices.
Blood Sugar Monitoring
During pregnancy, doctors recommend checking your blood sugar at least 4 times per day to ensure it does not increase.
Medicines
When exercise and diet do not help to reduce blood sugar levels, your doctor may recommend insulin injections. However, only a few people need these injections despite having gestational diabetes. Sometimes, doctors may also prescribe oral medications to reduce high blood sugar. In any case, more research is needed to confirm if oral medicines are safe and effective as insulin injections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary cause of gestational diabetes?
While the exact cause is not known, physicians think the placenta makes some hormones that block the ability of the body to use insulin efficiently. An organ that delivers nutrients and water to the fetus is called the placenta.
When does gestational diabetes go away?
Usually, it disappears shortly after birth but may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next 5 years. In addition, sometimes, women who develop gestational diabetes have undiagnosed diabetes before birth. For more details, talk with your healthcare professional.
What are the complications of gestational diabetes?
People who ignore the symptoms or do not get treatment for this diabetes type may experience some complications that could harm them and their children. For example:
- Large baby
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Polyhydramnios
- Type 2 diabetes
- Urinary tract infections
- Cesarean section
- Preterm labor
- Preeclampsia
This article does not contain all possible complications of this diabetes type. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
