Diabetes During Pregnancy
Read About Diabetes During Pregnancy
Get pregnant by planning ahead to avoid risks to both baby and mother.
GESTATIONAL DIABETES: Getting pregnant and starting a family is undoubtedly one of the most joyous journeys a couple undertakes. However that joy could be short-lived if one encounters an unexpected condition, which puts both the mother’s and baby’s life at risk. One such condition could be diabetes.
It is a complex condition, and the sooner we understand it, the better. It is presence of excess sugar in the blood. There are three main types of diabetes-type I, type II, and gestational diabetes. Type I and II diabetes needs persistent medical treatments, whereas gestational type resolves itself after childbirth.
Factors of Diabetes
There are many factors that can set off diabetes, such as insufficient amounts of insulin produced by pancreas, lack of insulin production, or a defective way in which the body is unable to use the insulin produced. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy.
A sugar, glucose, which is the body’s main source of nourishment and during pregnancy also the only source of nourishment for the baby escalates. The placenta secretes certain hormones for the development of the baby, about halfway into the pregnancy.
The production of these hormones is anti-insulin which interferes with the body’s usual response to insulin, thereby making it harder for the body to use insulin. This results in your body having excess glucose, and your pancreas not able to secrete enough insulin. Here the pancreas is not at fault, but the actual problem is caused by the placenta.
Gestational Diabetes
Though not of very common occurrence, 1 in every 50 women suffer from gestational diabetes. A person who is obese, over age 25 and has a family history of diabetes is more at risk. Though gestational diabetes resolves after delivery, women who develop this are more likely than other women to develop type II diabetes later on in life.
Women who are already having pre-existing type I or type II diabetes are strongly urged to get their blood sugar levels under control at least 3 to 6 months before getting pregnant, and to maintain as near as normal a level of glucose during the first trimester in order to reduce the risk of birth defects or miscarriage.
So if you are planning to get pregnant, relax as studies have shown that women who show signs of stress in women have less chances of getting pregnant. And discuss with your doctor, and choose one who is familiar with the special challenges of a diabetic pregnancy.
There is absolutely no need to have a panic attack as the problems associated with diabetes in pregnancy are manageable and even preventable. The key is to have a strict self-management plan with a healthy diet plan, frequent self-monitoring of glucose levels, and maintaining an appropriate level of physical activity.
