DIABETES MELLITUS

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose level that develops ONLY during pregnancy and occurs in women who do not already have diabetes. As a rule, it goes away once the baby is born. It affects only a small number of women. Gestational diabetes occurs at about the 24th week of pregnancy, when the body makes large amounts of hormones to help the baby grow. Unfortunately these hormones keep insulin from working the way it should. As a result the blood glucose level rises. It is recommended that all pregnant women should be screened by the 24th to the 28th week of gestation.

High blood glucose level will cause the baby to grow large and make more insulin. There is no reason for panic - most women with this disease have healthy babies. Having gestational diabetes does not mean that your baby will be born with diabetes. Still, gestational Diabetes can affect the baby, but regular control can substantially lower the risk of the baby having problems. That is why the treatment of gestational diabetes should begin promptly and continue from early in the pregnancy to the end, until your baby is born.

You could be at risk for Gestational Diabetes if:

• You are overweight
• You have a family history of diabetes
• You have had a baby weighing over 9 pounds

As a rule, once the baby is born, the blood sugar level goes back to normal. But, the risk that you get diabetes later in your life is much higher if you have had gestational diabetes. It is very important to maintain a healthy weight, stay on a healthy meal plan and exercise regularly.

Treatment for Gestational Diabetes

Treatment for this disease involves: diet therapy, regular monitoring of blood sugar level and insulin therapy when needed. The diet recommendations are based on height and ideal body weight. As a rule recommended calorie ranges are 1800-2400 calories.

Causes of Diabetes