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High blood sugar (gestational diabetes) during pregnancy…What it is and what are the dangers associated with this condition?
Being pregnant is one of the happiest times in a woman’s life. The wonder and joy of it all with your soon to be child growing inside of you and then the miracle of birth. For many women, pregnancy is a time of sheer excitement and joy, but there are those women whose pregnancies need to be monitored and are sometimes deemed high risk. One such condition that can cause a pregnancy to be labeled high risk is high blood sugar, or gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs only during a pregnancy and usually subsides after delivery of the baby. Statistics show that approximately 1 in 20 women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes occurs when the blood sugars of the mother are elevated, causing the mother to start exhibiting typical diabetic signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms include, but are not limited to, excessive thirst, blurred vision, and excessive weight gain or loss. It is important to let your doctor know your family and personal history as some factors may put you at an elevated risk for this condition, especially if you have or have had family members that experienced this condition in their lifetimes. Most doctors will routinely test pregnant women for high blood sugar somewhere between the 24th and 28th week of their pregnancy. Getting tested is a painless and non invasive procedure. The test involves drinking a high content sugar drink, followed by a simple blood draw.
There are potential dangers involved for both the mother and baby when a pregnant mother is diagnosed with gestational diabetes . These potential dangers and risks for the mother include an increase in recurrent urinary tract infections and yeast infections, pregnancy induced hypertension (preeclampsia), swelling, giving birth to a larger than normal sized baby (marcosomia), an increased risk of premature labor and delivery, and also an increased chance of needing an emergency cesarean section to deliver the baby. The potential dangers and risks for the baby include jaundice (a yellowish tint to the skin), low blood sugar and breathing difficulties at birth. Some studies have also shown that babies born to mothers who suffered from gestational diabetes were at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and obesity later in their lifetimes.
Gestational diabetes is a manageable condition and can usually be controlled through proper diet and exercise. Some women, however, need a more aggressive treatment to control their blood sugar. In these cases, insulin would be prescribed and would need to be administered by injection on a daily basis. Your physician will closely monitor you and your diabetes to ensure that you and your baby are safe throughout your entire pregnancy. Your physician will also make sure you are aware of all the risks and dangers associated with high blood sugar during pregnancy. He or she will also make sure that you are receiving the best treatment for your particular case of gestational diabetes. By following your doctor’s guidelines and advice for treatment, you can have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby, too.
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