Speak to your midwife or doctor if you're worried about any symptoms you're experiencing. Having gestational diabetes also means you're at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
During your first antenatal appointment also called a booking appointment at around week 8 to 12 of your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will ask you some questions to determine whether you're at an increased risk of gestational diabetes. If you have 1 or more risk factors for gestational diabetes you should be offered a screening test.
It involves having a blood test in the morning, when you have not had any food or drink for 8 to 10 hours though you can usually drink water, but check with the hospital if you're unsure. You're then given a glucose drink. After resting for 2 hours, another blood sample is taken to see how your body is dealing with the glucose. The OGTT is done when you're between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. If you've had gestational diabetes before, you'll be offered an OGTT earlier in your pregnancy, soon after your booking appointment, then another OGTT at 24 to 28 weeks if the first test is normal.
If you have gestational diabetes, the chances of having problems with your pregnancy can be reduced by controlling your blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels may be reduced by changing your diet and exercise routine.
However, if these changes don't lower your blood sugar levels enough, you will need to take medicine as well. A person will have a blood test after…. What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes? Signs and symptoms Diagnosis Prevalence Treatment Prevention Long-term effects Summary Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy when the body stops producing or responding to insulin adequately.
Signs and symptoms. Share on Pinterest Extreme thirst is a possible symptom of gestational diabetes. Long-term effects. Share on Pinterest Regular exercise can help with maintaining a healthy weight after pregnancy. Latest news Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. Ways to prevent gestational diabetes. How does diabetes affect women? Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, MD.
What is the best diet for gestational diabetes? Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, PhD. Yet, for many pregnant women, gestational diabetes does not cause any recognizable symptoms. That is why screening tests for the condition are recommended for all pregnant women, notes.
Similar to type 2 diabetes , gestational diabetes develops when the body is no longer able to respond effectively to insulin — a condition called insulin resistance.
When the body's cells don't properly absorb glucose, the simple sugar builds up in the bloodstream, resulting in elevated levels of glucose on blood tests. What's more, other changes during pregnancy — such as eating more, exercising less, and having larger fat deposits — can contribute to insulin resistance. Still, some women without any of these risk factors may go on to develop gestational diabetes due to their intolerance of the placental hormones, Dr.
Borst explains. Glucose Challenge Test This test involves drinking a syrupy glucose solution, and then undergoing blood test to measure your blood sugar level one hour later. This test will be similar to the first screening except the glucose solution will be sweeter and your blood will be checked hourly for three hours. If two of these blood tests come back high, you will receive a gestational diabetes diagnosis. However, women who have had gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of getting it again during future pregnancies and are also at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.
Diabetes that appears during pregnancy typically goes away right after delivery, but that is not always the case. Pre-gestational diabetes is any diabetes arising prior to pregnancy, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as other more rare types of diabetes like medication-induced diabetes or Cystic Fibrosis-related diabetes.
Pre-gestational diabetes will not resolve after delivery. The way to tell whether the patient had gestational diabetes or pre-gestational diabetes, Dr. Fay explains, is by doing a glucose test at the postpartum visit. This allows your doctor to screen for pre-gestational diabetes and insulin resistance. If you have pre-gestational diabetes that was diagnosed during pregnancy, your doctor will discuss a treatment plan with you.
This may include diet and lifestyle modifications, and use of insulin or oral medications. Gestational diabetes can be managed with close blood sugar monitoring, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, medication. Monitor your blood sugar. If you have gestational diabetes, your doctor may ask you to monitor your blood sugar levels several times a day.
Maintain a healthy diet. She typically recommends a diet of 30 to 40 percent carbohydrates, and choosing those carbohydrates that are more slowly digested and less likely to cause blood sugar spikes.
These foods tend to be high in fiber. A certified diabetes care and education specialist and registered dietitian nutritionist, which you can find via the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists , can help you build a diabetes-friendly diet. Get exercise. Talk to your doctor about the amount and level of physical activity that is right for you during your pregnancy. Faye typically recommends 30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week for all her patients. Use medication.
Sometimes, lifestyle changes may not be enough to manage gestational diabetes sufficiently. Your healthcare provider will teach you how to use a small needle to give yourself insulin shots.
Some doctors may prescribe a different medication to take orally. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent gestational diabetes, there are some steps you can take to lower your risk.
You'll need to be tested for changes in blood sugar more often. For most women, gestational diabetes doesn't cause noticeable signs or symptoms. Increased thirst and more-frequent urination are possible symptoms. If possible, seek health care early — when you first think about trying to get pregnant — so your doctor can check your risk of gestational diabetes along with your overall wellness.
Once you're pregnant, your doctor will check you for gestational diabetes as part of your prenatal care. If you develop gestational diabetes, you may need checkups more often. These are most likely to occur during the last three months of pregnancy, when your doctor will monitor your blood sugar level and your baby's health.
Researchers don't yet know why some women get gestational diabetes and others don't. Excess weight before pregnancy often plays a role. Normally, various hormones work to keep your blood sugar levels in check. But during pregnancy, hormone levels change, making it harder for your body to process blood sugar efficiently.
This makes your blood sugar rise. Some women have a greater risk of gestational diabetes.
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