Gestational Diabetes - Will it Go Away?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy. It will affect about 4% of all pregnant women. The good news is that it usually goes away after pregnancy.

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. The problem starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy, after the baby's body has been formed, but while the baby is busy growing. Because of this, it doesn't cause the kinds of birth defects sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had diabetes before pregnancy. In a few women, however, pregnancy uncovers Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. These women will need to continue diabetes treatment after pregnancy.

Treatment always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. For you as the mother-to-be, treatment for gestational diabetes helps lower the risk of a cesarean section birth that very large babies may require. Many women with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies because they follow a treatment plan from their health care provider. The goals of treatment are to maintain blood glucose levels within normal limits during the duration of the pregnancy, and ensure the well-being of the fetus.

Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus is widely practiced despite lack of evidence that it prevents adverse perinatal outcomes. However, if you're at high risk for diabetes or are showing signs of it (such as having sugar in your urine), your caregiver will recommend this screening test at your first prenatal visit and then again at 24 to 28 weeks if the result is negative. On the other hand, a small number of women may be considered at such low risk that they don't need to have the screening test at all. Initial screening for gestational diabetes is accomplished by performing a 50-g, one-hour glucose challenge test. Early screening can help moms and their families.

Gestational diabetes is serious, even if you have no symptoms. Because diabetes can hurt you and your baby, you need to start treatment quickly. You will need help from your doctor, nurse educator, and other members of your health care team so that your treatment for can be changed as needed. This team can help you to learn the skills you need to know to manage your gestational diabetes.

For more information on diabetes please visit:

[http://www.diabetic-care.net]

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