Gestational diabetes will usually go away after the delivery, except for some cases. It usually does not show symptoms, but your physician will know if you are susceptible to this condition based on your medical history.
Knowing what gestational diabetes is, its symptoms and causes, and how it can be prevented will help you have an uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy baby.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes, develops in pregnancy when blood sugar levels get too high. Generally, it appears during the middle of pregnancy – between 24 to 28 weeks.
The condition appears because of the pregnancy, irrespective of whether you had diabetes before pregnancy or not. People with type 1 and 2 diabetes have their own challenges during pregnancy.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
You may experience mild symptoms that include:
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Excessive thirst
- Yeast infections
- Excessive need to urinate
Causes of gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes mainly occurs when your body cannot produce the insulin it requires during pregnancy.
Insulin is a hormone that breaks down the sugar (glucose) from food and delivers it to our cells. Insulin keeps the glucose level in the blood at a healthy level.
Your body produces some hormones in large amounts during pregnancy, such as:
- Human placental lactogen (HPL)
- Hormones that increase insulin resistance
Over time, these hormones increase, and they can interfere with the insulin the way it works. When these hormones cause insulin resistance, sugar builds up in the blood, leading to diabetes.
If the insulin resistance is too strong, glucose levels may rise abnormally, leading to gestational diabetes.
Does gestational diabetes go away?
Gestational diabetes during pregnancy is common and usually goes away for most women after delivery. But half of the women who have gestational diabetes may develop type 2 diabetes in later life.
Women who have gestational diabetes should be screened at six weeks postpartum to confirm whether they have diabetes outside of pregnancy.
Tips for women with gestational diabetes
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Exercise regular
Exercise helps balance food intake and keeps blood sugar under control. After consulting your doctor, you can exercise regularly during and after pregnancy. Get a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week.
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Consume healthy food
Eat healthy foods from a meal plan recommended for a diabetic person. You can take help from a dietitian to create a healthy diet plan.
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Monitor your blood sugar regularly
Pregnancy causes the body’s need for energy to change; therefore, blood sugar levels can change abnormally. Check your blood sugar often with your doctor’s help.
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Take insulin if needed.
Sometimes your doctor may order you to take insulin to help control blood sugar levels.
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Get tested for diabetes after pregnancy.
Get tested for diabetes 6 to 12 post pregnancy, and then every 1 to 3 years. Even if gestational diabetes has gone away after having a baby, some women may develop type 2 diabetes later.
After the pregnancy, regular exercise and a healthy diet can help prevent or delay getting type 2 diabetes. For any requirement of Pregnancy Blood Test in Vadodara visit us at Grace Laboratory.
