Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is not commonly known about. On the contrary, nowadays, plenty of people know about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Indeed Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common illnesses affecting adults today, and unfortunately the incidence of Type 2 diabetes is only on the increase. As if Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes weren’t enough to worry about, there is another form of diabetes that affects only women that they need to be informed about, namely gestational diabetes.

There’s a good chance you have never even heard of gestational diabetes. And it’s not surprising since not only does gestational diabetes affect only pregnant women, only 3 to 5 percent of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes. So, as far as health problems go, its incidence is relatively low. Despite being a comparatively rare form of diabetes, gestational diabetes is a serious condition and one that needs proper attention and monitoring.

If you are pregnant, or planning to have children, it’s important to know the risks and symptoms of gestational diabetes so you don’t let this condition go unchecked. For example, if you are obese, or have a history of diabetes in your family, you are considered to be “at risk” of gestational diabetes. Likewise, if you have had birth problems in the past (for instance, if you have given birth to a child with a birth defect; had a still born child or overproduced amniotic fluid) you are more likely to experience the problem.

For women that are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, their first natural question is “what are the risks to my baby?” Amongst other things, some of the problems that can arise are “macrosomia” (meaning “large body” and results in the infant being much larger than normal babies). Other common complications can be infant hypoglycemia and chemical imbalances. The good news is that women can avoid these outcomes by managing gestational diabetes during pregnancy through proper diet and eating. The key is early detection. Safeguard both you and your infant’s health by having a gestational diabetes test as soon as you find out you are expecting.