Get the Facts on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Gestational diabetes (also known as gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM) is a condition which only affects pregnant women. It is a form of diabetes in which pregnant women that have never been previously diagnosed with actual diabetes exhibit high levels of blood glucose during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects anywhere from 3-10% of pregnancies, depending on the population that is being studied.
It is recommended that all pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes during the 24th and 28th weeks of their pregnancy, since that is when it is typically diagnosed. Some of the risk factors associated with a higher chance of developing GDM include a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes or pre diabetes, family history, the mother’s age (the risk of GDM increases significantly after age 35), ethnic background, having a prior child with above normal body weight, and whether or not she is a smoker. However, anywhere from 40-60% of women with GDM have no discernible risk factors at all, which is the main reason why screening for it in the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy is so highly recommended.
The symptoms of this form of diabetes include excessive thirst, extreme tiredness, increased frequency of urination, vomiting, nausea, yeast and bladder infections, and blurred vision. Since most of these symptoms are a normal part of pregnancy for many women, it’s critical that you be screened in order to detect the risks for your particular condition.
The hazards of gestational diabetes that is left untreated are significant. The baby is more liable to be big for its gestational age, making labor harder for the mother. It’s also more likely to have low blood glucose or jaundice. There is also some evidence, albeit inconclusive at this point, that mothers with GDM are also at an increased risk of developing preeclampsia, a form of hypertension that arises during pregnancy associated with high levels of protein in the urine. Preeclampsia is considered one of the more serious pregnancy complications for its potential effects on both the mother and baby.
Though there is a small chance that the fetus or newborn might die if the mother has GDM, careful monitoring of both fetus and mother combined with the appropriate treatments will lower the risk of this to almost nil. Nonetheless, women with GDM still need to be watched closely after giving birth in the event that they develop full-blown diabetes so that it can be caught early. Depending on the woman’s age, weight, and other risk factors, there is a very good chance of women with GDM getting some form of actual diabetes within 5-10 years after delivery.
Diabetes is a severe health concern which can lead to devastating health problems and can even be fatal. In some cases, it can be managed through modifications to your diet. If you’re looking for a diabetic diet menu or other guidelines on managing the condition, visit Diabetes Treatment.