Gestational Diabetes In Pregnancy [July 2023]

What is Gestational Diabetes?

During pregnancy, some pregnant women may develop a high level of sugar in their blood. This situation develops between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. This situation is known as gestational diabetes. 

If this situation develops while you are pregnant it doesn’t mean that you have diabetes before your pregnancy. But gestational diabetes may increase the chances of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. 

If the situation is not managed it can also raise the chances of developing diabetes and increase the possibility of complications for you and your baby during pregnancy.

If you want to take any type of help meet our best Gynecologist in Gurgaon serving at Kamla hospital. 

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes 

There are very few chances to cause symptoms during gestational diabetes. If someone experiences symptoms they will be milled in nature. They may include-

• Fatigue 
• Blurred vision 
• Excessive thirst
• Yeast infection
• Excessive need to urinate

What causes Gestational Diabetes?

The exact causes of gestational diabetes are unknown, but hormones are likely to play a role. When you are pregnant your body produces a larger amount of some hormones including-

• Human placental lactogen
• Many other hormones that are insulin resistance

Due to an increase in hormones and sustaining your pregnancy, they may start to make your body resistant to insulin, the hormones that regulate your blood sugar. 

Insulin helps move glucose out of your blood into your cells where it’s used for energy. While pregnancy body naturally becomes slightly insulin resistant so that more glucose is available in your bloodstream to be passed to the baby. The situation may become worse if your glucose level may rises abnormally because of strong insulin resistance. This causes gestational diabetes.  

Who is at risk of gestational diabetes? 

Their situations are at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes- 

• Have a high blood pressure
• History of diabetes in the family
• Suffering from obesity before you become pregnant
• Are expecting multiple babies 
• Had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
• Previously encountered with gestational diabetes

Are there different types of gestational diabetes? 

Doctors segregate gestational diabetes into two classes-

• Class A1- This is a type of gestational diabetes that can be managed via your diet, in simple we can say that it is of moderate level.
• Class A2- This situation is a bit different from this type where insulin and oral medication are needed to manage the condition. 

What complications are associated with gestational diabetes?

If gestational diabetes is not managed and your blood sugar level remains higher throughout pregnancy. It may lead to complications and may affect the health of the child.

There may be certain possibilities when your baby is born when you are suffering from gestational diabetes-

• A high birth weight
• Breathing difficulties
• Low blood sugar 
• Shoulder dystocia

The above are the possibilities that can happen to a newborn but if preventive measures are not taken then there is a higher possibility of developing diabetes in life.  

Can gestational diabetes be prevented?

As we know that it’s impossible to prevent gestational diabetes entirely. But certain preventive measures can be taken via health-promoting habits helps to reduce your chances of developing the condition.