The cause of gestational diabetes is largely unknown, although there is some link to pregnancy hormones and the placenta. If your body is unable to make or use all the insulin it needs, glucose remaining in the blood eventually reaches abnormally high levels.

Unlike other health problems, gestational diabetes does not normally result in birth defects; however, it can have repercussions for the baby. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes tend to be large and this can lead to injuries to the child’s shoulders during the normal birthing process. The babies can have jaundice, low glucose levels and higher insulin levels than is the norm, as well as breathing problems. It is also believed that babies born with high insulin levels are at a higher risk for obesity.

Gestational diabetes can also cause problems for the mother, as delivering a larger-than-normal baby can be difficult and, in many instances, results in a caesarian section. In addition, gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing type II diabetes later on in life.

As with any other type of diabetes, controlling the gestational type is possible with diet, exercise, and medication. With this type of diabetes, treatment is normally started as soon as it is known that the mother-to-be has GD. Diet plans are normally given to the expectant mother so that she can help control her blood sugar level. Foods from all the food groups should be eaten for a well-balanced diet, with greater portions of vegetables and whole grains.

Moderate exercise is also recommended to help control gestational diabetes, although previous levels of physical activity have to be taken into account. Physical activity helps the body use up the excess glucose without the need for extra insulin. If you were not exercising before you got pregnant, it would be unwise to start any strenuous exercise at this stage of your pregnancy.

It is also important to monitor your sugar level closely. Set up a routine so that you know when to test your glucose level.

A diagnosis of GD or gestational diabetes in one pregnancy is normally an indication that the same diagnosis will happen again in later pregnancies. However, gestational diabetes normally goes away within a few weeks of giving birth, although many women do later on develop type I or II diabetes during their lives.

To learn more go to Diabetic Diet and at Type 1 Diabetes

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Pregnant women are often afraid about the word Diabetes. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is a condition that only affects pregnant women. As per statistics, there are approximately 250,000 cases of gestational diabetes every year in the US.

Safety And Monitoring

However, having this form of diabetes and a pregnancy that continues normally is entirely possible. If a woman appears to be at risk, her doctor will likely conduct a test from between 24-28 weeks. If the test is positive, exercising and monitoring both your diet and your blood sugar levels should be adequate in most cases.

Your health care provider will tell you exactly what to do. In some cases insulin injections may be necessary, but the baby should be fine. After birth, gestational diabetes mellitus generally disappears within about two months. However, this may be a warning sign of future diabetes and will need to be tracked by your health care provider.

If you plan to have another child and you had gestational diabetes during your earlier pregnancies, always be sure to consult with your physician. You should have your blood glucose levels tested a few months before making an attempt to get pregnant again.

Preeclampsia And Diabetes

For those with gestational diabetes or pre-existing diabetes, a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery are, again, generally the norm. Unfortunately, diabetes does increase the risk of the condition known as preeclampsia that can affect pregnant women.

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive condition (high blood pressure) experienced by between five to eight percent of pregnant women that can put stress on the kidneys and liver. It can also lead to edema of the lungs, increase the risk of blood clots and cause seizures during the birth as well.

Preeclampsia can even kill, and for those with gestational diabetes there is an approximately 15% increase in the risk factor for this condition. For those with pre-existing diabetes, that risk factor goes up to 30%, and the condition is most common in a first-time pregnancy. Your health care provider will no doubt be monitoring for such things.

Although diabetes and pregnancy can scare you, chances are that you can look forward to a happy and normal delivery. You need to exercise caution and be prudent and monitor your health closely together with your physician so that any such anomalies can be detected early and treated without any unwanted complications.

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