There’s nothing like the joy of bringing a child into the world. However, along with the delight of having a baby comes the worries. One concern is gestational diabetes. Within the last 20 years, the incidence of gestational diabetes has nearly doubled; it now affects about 18 percent of U.S. pregnancies.
Carbohydrate intolerance
Gestational diabetes, also called carbohydrate intolerance, occurs in women who did not have diabetes before becoming pregnant. They begin to experience high glucose (blood sugar) levels during pregnancy, usually during the 24th to 26th week of gestation. While the exact cause is unknown, the risk factors are well known. They include:
What happens?
When a mother has gestational diabetes, her pancreas works very hard to produce insulin. However, the extra insulin fails to lower blood glucose levels and the extra blood glucose goes to the baby through the placenta. In turn, the baby’s pancreas produces extra insulin to compensate for the high glucose. Left untreated, this can cause serious problems for mother and baby.
What are the effects?
Babies of mothers who have gestational diabetes are more likely to develop macrosomia, the medical term for a baby with a high birth weight—generally more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces. The extra fat can make delivery difficult, leading to potential shoulder damage, breathing problems and low blood sugar in babies right after birth. Additionally, baby and mom are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes for the rest of their lives.
Prevention
Gestational diabetes is a concern for all mothers-to-be, but by speaking with your healthcare provider, you can help prevent it. Your doctor, nurse, obstetrician or dietitian can help you lower your blood sugar levels. If you have any of the risk factors, make sure to speak with your Riverview Health provider about preventing and screening for gestational diabetes. With the appropriate help, you can focus on what really matters— your beautiful, healthy child.
Has it been a while since your last check-up, or do you need a new physician? Call us at 317.565.0535 to request an appointment.
Sources: Diabetes.org, NIDDK.NIH.gov, NLM.NIH.gov
