Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience in a woman’s life, but it’s a journey that often comes with challenges. Morning sickness, unusual cravings, and back discomfort can conspire to make being pregnant difficult.
Pregnancies can have more serious complications, as well, such as gestational diabetes. Though it is a manageable condition, gestational diabetes can cause problems for both a woman and her baby if it isn’t taken seriously.
“Gestational diabetes is diagnosed when there is an increase in pregnancy hormones produced by the placenta causing blood sugars to rise,” said Darla Schwenke, a registered nurse and diabetes educator at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Regional Diabetes Center. “As the hormones increase, insulin production increases to help maintain normal blood sugar levels. Between 24 and 28 weeks, the body needs three times more insulin, and with gestational diabetes the pancreas is unable to keep up.”
Several groups of women are at higher risk of being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, including women over the age of 25, women who have had babies that weighed more than 9 pounds, women with a family history of diabetes, women who have had polycystic ovarian syndrome, and women who are overweight. Women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes are likely to be diagnosed with it again during future pregnancies.
In all but 2 percent of cases, gestational diabetes goes away shortly after the birth of the baby. However, 25 percent of women who experience gestational diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes later in life at ideal weight, along with 60 percent of overweight women. It is important to check with your health care team about being checked for Type 2 diabetes every 1-3 years.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, untreated gestational diabetes can lead to your baby:
- Being born with a larger-than-normal body, a condition called macrosomia, which makes delivery more difficult for both mother and child;
- Being born with jaundice;
- Being more likely to become overweight and develop Type 2 diabetes later in life;
- Having hypoglycemia when born;
- Having respiratory distress syndrome, which causes difficulty breathing;
That’s why it’s important for expectant mothers to receive education about factors that promote normal blood sugar control, Schwenke said. Schwenke recommends planning three healthy, balanced meals and three snacks spread evenly throughout the day. A registered dietitian can provide an individualized meal plan to promote good nutrition, healthy weight gain, and good glycemic control.
A physician-approved exercise program is encouraged. Sometimes, medication or insulin may be required to keep blood sugar levels under control.
“Monitoring blood sugars and keeping them as close to target is key to best outcomes for mother and baby,” Schwenke said.
