What Is Gestational Diabetes?
This is a type of diabetes that affects pregnant women who have never had it before. It happens when your body cannot produce the needed amount of insulin during pregnancy. That leads to high blood sugar, which can be dangerous for both your and your baby’s health.
If this issue occurs during your gestational period, it doesn’t mean that you have had it before or will continue to have it after the pregnancy ends. However, it does raise the potential risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Fortunately, with some lifestyle changes, it can be managed easily. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our qualified staff at University Park OBYGN about anything that might trouble you. Call us today!
What Are The Symptoms?
In most cases, pregnancy diabetes doesn’t show any signs. If you do experience any, they will probably be mild. Some common symptoms of gestational diabetes include:
- Blurred vision
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Yeast infection
You can always ask your doctor to test you if you are prone to certain risk factors. The majority of pregnant women often experience fatigue and nausea without having gestational diabetes, so it is important to know the difference between the two. A good practice is to keep an eye on your urine tests, which can show an increased sugar level.
What Causes Pregnancy Diabetes?
During the gestational period, insulin resistance usually increases, which makes it easier for your body to share all the needed nutrients with the baby. Insulin helps with moving glucose out of your bloodstream. However, if the levels are too high, the sugar builds up in the blood. That is why urine tests usually show if you have this condition. Although experts are not exactly sure what causes gestational diabetes, there are a few risk factors that might contribute to getting it:
- Being overweight
- Having a high blood pressure
- Not being physically active
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Having a family history of diabetes
- Having previously given birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or over
- Being of a certain ethnicity or race, such as Hispanic, Asian, or Asian American
Risks of Gestational Diabetes
Several difficulties can affect both you and your baby. Your child may be at risk of:
- Early birth – Increased levels of sugar in your blood may increase the risk of delivery before the due date and preterm labor. Also, if your baby is overweight, such labor is usually recommended.
- High birth weight – Also known as macrosomia. If your blood sugar level is higher than normal, it can make your baby grow too big. Huge babies (those who are over 9 pounds) can become stuck in your birth canal, causing birth injuries. This usually requires a C-section.
- Type 2 diabetes later in life and/or obesity – Children have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes in the future and being obese.
- Difficulties with breathing – Babies born prematurely often experience respiratory issues, which make breathing challenging.
- Low blood sugar – If you give birth earlier, your baby has an increased chance of having hypoglycemia shortly after delivery. Severe episodes of this condition may cause seizures. However, there are solutions such as fast feeding and intravenous glucose solutions that can help restore the baby’s blood sugar level to normal.
- Stillbirth – Gestational diabetes that was left untreated may cause a baby’s death before or after birth.
Pregnancy diabetes can also heighten your risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Preeclampsia – This is a serious complication in pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, swelling in your face, weight gain, nausea, and others.
- Having a C-section – You will be more likely to have a surgical delivery if you have gestational diabetes.
- Getting type 2 diabetes in the future – It is possible to get it again during a future pregnancy. When you get older, you are also at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Prevention
Unfortunately, there aren’t specific ways to prevent gestational diabetes. However, you can take different preventative measures even before pregnancy that can boost your overall health and lower the risks of getting it. If you already had this issue during your previous pregnancy, these healthy habits may reduce the risk of getting it again in the next one:
- A balanced diet
- Physical activity
- Having a healthy weight
- Not gaining more weight than recommended during pregnancy
Pregnancy Diabetes Diet
Controlling your blood sugar during the gestational period is essential for both you and your baby. That can especially be hard during pregnancy when women often have an increased appetite. Here is a list of gestational diabetes foods that are recommended to keep your blood sugar stabilized:
- Lean proteins – As you may know, protein is one of the essential nutrients during the gestational period. It keeps you full and helps with sugar spikes. Sources like chicken, eggs, low-fat dairy, turkey, and fish can help you with your cravings and lessen morning sickness.
- Healthy fats – These are beneficial for heart health and can help you feel full for a couple of hours. Ensure you include nuts, olive oil, avocado, and seeds in your diet. Healthy fats help slow the breakdown of food in your intestines so glucose can’t be converted to sugar too quickly in your bloodstream.
- Complex carbohydrates – Although processed carbohydrates are full of sugar and can be harmful, these ones are important for energy and fiber. You can choose from various sources of complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, whole-wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, beans, and more.
- Non-starchy vegetables – Packed with vitamins and nutrients, these are crucial for a healthy pregnancy. By pairing the protein source of your choice with vegetables, you can lower the risks of gestational diabetes. Make sure to include mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and others in your pregnancy diabetes diet.
You also need to keep an eye on foods that can spike your blood sugar, such as:
- Sugar – Occasional desserts are not harmful, but be mindful of the sugary drinks, dishes, or items with added sugar.
- Fruit – They are also packed with carbs, which are later processed into sugar. If your doctor recommends a certain amount of carbs per day, make sure to cut back on fruit.
- Processed carbohydrates – As mentioned previously, complex carbohydrates provide the necessary fiber and other nutrients. These, on the other hand, aren’t as much nutritious. After eating refined carbohydrates, your body will quickly process them into glucose.
Aside from eating gestational diabetes foods and following a nutritious diet, your healthcare provider will also recommend staying physically active and maintaining a healthy weight.
When Should I Contact My Doctor?
If you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms of gestational diabetes, such as excessive thirst, blurred vision, or frequent urination, schedule a meeting with your doctor to ensure you do not have it. Even if you do, simple lifestyle modifications such as following a pregnancy diabetes diet or staying physically active can help both you and your baby. Feel free to contact our highly-skilled team of experts at University Park OBGYN if you have any questions regarding this topic.
