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best gynecologist in Fortis Gurgaon

What is gestational diabetes?

Posted By Dr. Deepti Asthana on 02-08-2021


What is gestational diabetes?

Diabetes is a kind of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Pregnant women acquire the disease when their blood sugar levels become too high. GD usually occurs between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy.

Developing GD does not imply that you had diabetes prior to becoming pregnant. The condition manifests itself as a result of the pregnancy. When it comes to pregnancy, women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have unique obstacles. Call and book your appointment with Dr. Deepti who is the best gynecologist in Fortis Gurgaon.

best gynecologist in Fortis Gurgaon

What is the cause of gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is caused by hormonal changes and the process by which our bodies turn food into energy.

Insulin is a hormone that breaks down glucose (sugar) from food and transports it to our cells. Insulin maintains a healthy level of glucose in our blood. However, if insulin does not operate properly or if we do not have enough of it, sugar accumulates in the blood and leads to diabetes.

Hormones can interfere with the way insulin acts during pregnancy. It may fail to balance your blood sugar levels as it should, which can result in gestational diabetes.

Who is at risk of developing gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes can occur in any pregnant woman. Other factors that may enhance your chances of developing GD are as follows:

  • Heart disease
  • Blood pressure is too high.
  • Inactivity.
  • Obesity.
  • Personal or family history of GD.
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Previous birth of a baby weighing at least nine pounds.
  • What signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes are there?

    Gestational diabetes is frequently asymptomatic. However, some women report:

  • Urination on a regular basis.
  • Nausea
  • Thirst
  • Tiredness
  • How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?

    During pregnancy, your blood sugar will be tested by your doctor. The examination could be divided into two parts:

    You take a glucose challenge test by drinking a sugary liquid. After roughly an hour, you will be given a blood test to determine your blood sugar level. If your blood sugar is too high, your doctor will do a glucose tolerance test.

    Glucose tolerance test: An oral glucose tolerance test is only performed if the findings of your challenge test are odd or you are a high risk at the first place. Before the tolerance test, you fast (don't eat for eight hours). Your blood is drawn before and after you consume a sweet liquid by your healthcare provider. A pregnancy diabetes tolerance test can confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

    Possible complications for the baby

    In contrast to type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes usually develops too late to cause birth abnormalities. Birth malformations are more common during the first trimester of pregnancy

    (before the 13th week). Insulin resistance caused by the placenta's contra-insulin hormones does not normally occur until the 24th week. During the critical first trimester, most women with gestational diabetes mellitus have normal blood sugar levels.

    GDM problems are frequently controllable and avoidable. The key to prevention is strict control of blood sugar levels as soon as diabetes is diagnosed.

    Infants of mothers with gestational diabetes are sensitive to many chemical imbalances, such as low serum calcium and magnesium levels, but in general, gestational diabetes has two significant problems: macrosomia and hypoglycemia:

  • Macrosomia-
  • A baby with macrosomia is one who is significantly larger than normal. The foetus takes all of its nourishment directly from the mother's blood. If the mother's blood contains too much glucose, the foetus' pancreas detects this and creates extra insulin in an attempt to utilise this glucose. The additional glucose is converted to fat by the foetus. Even if the mother has gestational diabetes, the foetus can manufacture all of the insulin it requires. The combination of the mother's high blood glucose levels and the fetus's high insulin levels leads to massive deposits of fat, causing the foetus to grow unnaturally large.

  • Hypoglycemia-
  • Hypoglycemia is defined as low blood sugar in the newborn right after birth. If the mother's blood sugar levels have been continuously high, the foetus will have a high level of insulin in its circulation. After birth, the baby's insulin level remains high, but it no longer receives the high level of sugar from its mother, resulting in the newborn's blood sugar level becoming extremely low. After birth, the infant's blood sugar level is examined, and if it is too low, the newborn may need to be given glucose intravenously.

    During labour, blood glucose levels are routinely checked. To avoid the baby's blood sugar dIpping too low after delivery, insulin may be given to keep the mother's blood sugar in a normal range.

    Treatment

    Treatment for gestational diabetes consists of the following steps:

  • Changes in lifestyle
  • Monitoring of blood sugar levels
  • If medication is required, it will be administered.
  • Keeping your blood sugar levels under control is important for both your own and your baby's health. Close supervision might also assist you in avoiding difficulties throughout pregnancy and delivery.
  • Changes in lifestyle

    Your lifestyle — how you eat and move — is critical to maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels. Doctors do not recommend reducing weight when pregnant because your body is working hard to support your growing child. However, your doctor can help you set weight gain targets depending on your pre-pregnancy weight.

    Nutritious diet

    A healthy diet emphasises fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein — foods high in nutrition and fibre but low in fat and calories — while limiting overly refined carbs, especially sweets. A licenced dietitian or diabetes educator can assist you in developing a meal plan that takes into account your present weight, pregnancy weight gain objectives, blood sugar level, exercise habits, food choices, and budget.

    best gynecologist in Fortis Gurgaon

    Maintain your level of activity.

    Physical activity is an important part of any woman's fitness strategy before, during, and after pregnancy. Exercise reduces your blood sugar, and, as an additional bonus, it can help relieve some typical pregnancy discomforts, such as back pain, muscle cramps, swelling, constipation, and difficulty sleeping.

    Keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.

    While pregnant, your doctor may instruct you to check your blood sugar four or more times per day — first thing in the morning and after meals — to ensure that it remains within a healthy range.

    Medication

    If diet and exercise aren't enough to control your blood sugar, insulin injections may be required. Between 10% and 20% of women with gestational diabetes require insulin to meet their blood sugar targets. Some doctors prescribe oral diabetes medications, but others believe that further study is needed to demonstrate that oral medications are as safe and effective as injectable insulin in controlling gestational diabetes.

    Your baby should be closely monitored.

    Close monitoring of your infant is a vital element of your treatment approach. Your doctor may use ultrasounds or other tests to monitor your baby's growth and development. If you haven't gone into labour by your due date — or even sooner — your doctor may induce labour. If you give birth after your due date, you and your baby are at a higher risk of difficulties.

    After-delivery follow-up

    Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels after birth and again in six to twelve weeks to ensure that they have returned to normal. If your tests are normal — and most are — you'll need to have your diabetes risk checked every three years at the very least.

    If future tests reveal that you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, consult your doctor about boosting your preventative efforts or beginning a diabetes management plan.Call and book your appointment with Dr. Deepti who is the best gynecologist in Fortis Gurgaon and best pregnancy doctor. She has vast experience of delivering babies safely and would help in managing your pregnancy with care and responsibility.

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