About 7 in 100 pregnant women may temporarily suffer from gestational diabetes. This usually only starts around the twentieth week of pregnancy. The body responds less well to insulin during pregnancy. This hormone is necessary to keep the amount of sugar in the blood in balance. However, the pregnancy hormones inhibit the action of insulin. Normally the body then produces extra insulin to prevent blood sugar levels from becoming unbalanced. With gestational diabetes, the body does not produce enough extra insulin.
Do I have gestational diabetes?
Most pregnant women will not notice that they have elevated blood sugar levels. However, a number of symptoms may indicate gestational diabetes. For example, a feeling of thirst, with the need to drink a lot. Other signs are fatigue and frequent urination. In addition, an ultrasound may show that the baby is too big and too heavy at the time of the check-up. This is because the excess sugar enters the unborn baby's body via the placenta. The baby will then produce insulin to break down the glucose. The glucose will then be converted into fat, causing the unborn baby's weight to increase too quickly.
Risks
There are several factors that increase the risk of gestational diabetes. For example, if there is already diabetes or if the woman has previously had a heavy baby (4500 grams). Other factors are being overweight (a BMI over 30) and having too much blood sugar before pregnancy. Furthermore, there is a greater risk of this form of (temporary) diabetes if type 2 diabetes occurs in the immediate family. Women who fall into a risk category often have a blood test between the 24th and 28th week to check whether they have too much glucose have in the blood. This blood test is carried out earlier in women who have previously had gestational diabetes. Around week 16.
Therapy
Untreated gestational diabetes can lead to high blood pressure, a more difficult delivery and delayed maturation of the baby's lungs. The glucose level in the blood should be checked several times a day with a glucose meter. The diabetes nurse in the hospital can provide guidance in this. In addition, it is recommended to limit the intake of carbohydrates and fat. Targeted nutritional advice helps many women, but sometimes it is necessary to inject insulin pen needle.
On average, gestational diabetes disappears within 24 hours after delivery. However, both mother and child have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes over time. About 50% of women who have had gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five to ten years. You reduce the risk by continuing to pay close attention to weight and nutrition after pregnancy, in combination with sufficient exercise. Gestational diabetes should not be confused with women who have diabetes before pregnancy. They will have to pay extra attention, because there is a chance that the child will develop a congenital defect