Gestational diabetes is defined as glucose intolerance of variable degree with onset or its first recognition during pregnancy. The growth and development of the fetus are closely associated with the delivery of maternal nutrients, particularly glucose. During the last three months of pregnancy gestational diabetes is a medical concern of importance because it is directly related to the duration and degree of the mother's blood sugar elevation. This disease state is as highly diverse as the variety of carbohydrate intolerance that women bring to pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes Affects Mother and Fetus....
For the mother with gestational diabetes there is a higher risk of hypertenion, preeclampsia, urinary tract infections, cesarean section, and future diabetes. Many of the problems associated with overt diabetic pregnancies can be seen in infants of gestational diabetic pregnancies, macrosomia, neural tube defects, neonatal hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyperbilirubinemia, birth trauma, prematurity syndromes, and subsequent childhood and adolescent obesity.
How Prevalent Is Gestational Diabetes?
The prevalence of gestational diabetes varies worldwide and among different racial and ethnic groups within a country. This variability is partly because of the different criteria and screening regimens and we must keep in mind that not all pregnant women are screened.
Gestational diabetes is similar to type II diabetes, previously known as mature onset diabetes. Most gestational diabetics have a deficiency of insulin receptors (prior to pregnancy) or a marked increase in weight that has been placed primarily on the abdominal region. Others may have deficient insulin production and after pregancy will develop mature-onset diabetes that is insulin-dependent.
Protecting You and Your Baby.........
There is diagnostic criteria and screening procedures available to pregnant women. The traditional method of screening for gestational diabetes is to assess risk factors sucy as pregnancy age, prepregnancy weight, family history of diabetes in a first-degree relative, previous large babies and perinatal weight loss. However, screening based solely on risk factors will only identify approximately 50% of women with gestational diabetes. Therefore, the American Diabetes Association recommend that all pregnant women, who have not been identified with elevated blood glucose earlier in pregnancy, be screened with a glucose tolerance test between their 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. This test can be performed at anytime of the day and with disregard to previous meal ingestion. If the blood glucose level is elevated this indicates the need for further testing, such as a glucose test after fasting a significant amount of time.
Medical Tips................
If you are pregnant and you already have diabetes
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