Gestational diabetes affects two to five percent of pregnant women. If a woman is 35 years of age or older, is overweight or has a family history of diabetes she may at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes. Because of these risk factors a woman may have to be tested earlier and/or more frequently. If a woman has gestational diabetes it means her body is not producing enough insulin to deal with sugar intake during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
The screening test for gestational diabetes happens sometime between week 24 and week 28 of pregnancy since the placenta between those weeks produces large amounts of hormones that can cause insulin resistance. At the appointment a woman will have to drink a very sweet beverage and wait an hour before getting her blood drawn. The results will show whether she is producing enough insulin. If results show gestational diabetes is a possibility, she will have another appointment for more testing. Before the initial appointment, a woman may have some signs of gestational diabetes. They include:
- frequent urination
- fatigue
- nausea
- frequent bladder, vaginal and/or skin infections
- blurred vision
- sugar in urine (test done at appointment)
Treating Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition during pregnancy. A woman can be diabetic after delivery but it will not be labeled as gestational diabetes. She will be at a higher risk of developing Type II diabetes. The best way to treat gestational diabetes during pregnancy is to control blood sugar levels. This means having a good diet and exercising regularly, monitoring blood glucose levels and the doctor monitoring the woman and her unborn child closely. If gestational diabetes isn't treated effectively there is a chance of complications. These can include:
- large birth weight
- premature delivery
- increased chance of cesarean (c-section) delivery
- slight increased risk of fetal and neonatal death
Diabetes After Pregnancy
Testing will be done about three months after delivery to see if diabetes is still present in the woman. Signs of diabetes after pregnancy include frequent urination and thirst as well as increased sugar in urine and/or blood.
A woman will be screened for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28. It will be an hour appointment where her blood will be drawn. If further testing is needed after this initial visit, she will need to visit again but it will be a three hour appointment. Managing gestational diabetes effectively includes close monitoring of blood glucose levels, the woman and her unborn child and eating healthy and exercising.
Source: American Pregnancy Association, " Gestational Diabetes " (accessed December 27, 2010)
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