Gestational diabetes is a highly treatable condition unique to pregnant women. This specialized type of diabetes occurs in 3 to 10 percent of all pregnancies, and exhibits itself in women who have not been diagnosed with any type of diabetes prior to their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes patients typically possess little to no symptoms, so it extremely important for pregnant women to undergo routine prenatal screening tests between weeks 24 to 28 of the pregnancy to ensure early detection and any arising problem prevention. The exact cause of gestational diabetes is still being researched and is under debate, but certain groups are at a higher risk for diagnosis than others. Women older than 25, those with a family history of diabetes, clinically obese women, and African-American and Hispanic women are all in high risk groups for developing the condition.
Fortunately, the condition is not life threatening to the mother. However, children born to women with gestational diabetes have an increased chance of diabetes and obesity themselves, an increased chance of jaundice, as well as a slightly increased risk of death during childbirth. Early diagnosis and controlling blood sugar levels are key to managing the condition. Once diagnosed, the health care provider will provide the expectant mother with a treatment plan that is designed to keep the patient’s blood sugar and glucose counts maintained at healthy level. The health care provider will also routinely administer painless non-stress and ultrasound tests to monitor the health of the unborn baby.
Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes are also at an increased risk of developing a different type of diabetes (type 2) after pregnancy so proper treatment and moderate exercise is important in the mother’s prevention efforts.