Diabetes is said to affect almost 20% of the population in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. As a relatively well-documented topic, most people tend to relate the condition to either type I or type II diabetes. Here, King’s College Hospital London explain the much lesser-known condition of gestational diabetes, which can occur during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes is a condition that develops during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. During the course of pregnancy, babies and placentas produce hormones that make the mother resistant to her own insulin, and in most cases women produce more insulin to compensate and keep their blood sugar levels normal. However, some pregnant women cannot produce enough extra insulin, causing their blood sugar levels to rise. This is gestational diabetes.
One in seven births is affected by gestational diabetes, and half the women affected by gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years after delivery.
What are the complications of gestational diabetes?
- A large baby (weighing more than 9 lbs or 4.1 kg), which can increase the risk of injury to the mother or baby during delivery.
- Stillbirth (a baby who dies before being born), a complication which fortunately is now rare in women with gestational diabetes because of good control of blood sugars and careful monitoring of mothers and babies during pregnancy.
- Neonatal hypoglycemia (low blood sugar in the newborn period).
- Preeclampsia
How do I know if I am affected by gestational diabetes?
Testing for gestational diabetes is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. However, testing may be done earlier in the pregnancy if you have risk factors for gestational diabetes, such as:
- A history of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
- Obesity
- Excess sugar in your urine
- A strong family history of diabetes
- High body mass index
How can I manage gestational diabetes?
After you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will need to make changes to your diet. You will need to learn to check your blood sugar level before eating in the morning and an hour after meals. Sometimes in addition to dietary changes, medication is required to control blood sugar, including insulin.
The main goal of treatment for gestational diabetes is to reduce the risk of complications described above.
Monitoring gestational diabetes during my pregnancy
Most women who develop gestational diabetes have more frequent prenatal visits (e.g. once every week or two), especially if insulin is used. The purpose of these visits is to monitor your and your baby’s health, discuss your diet, and adjust your dose of insulin to keep your blood sugar levels near normal. It is common to change the dose of insulin as the pregnancy progresses.
After I have given birth
After delivery, blood sugar levels of most women with gestational diabetes will return to normal and not require further treatment with insulin. You can also return to your pre-pregnancy diet and have tests for type 2 diabetes at around six weeks postpartum. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) also recommends that all women with a history of gestational diabetes have testing for type 2 diabetes at least every year after their initial post-pregnancy test.
To find out more about gestational diabetes or to book an appointment with one of our consultants please contact King’s College Hospital London 02 501 4000.
You can also visit: www.kingscollegehospitaluae.com
