Gestational diabetes (GD) is when a pregnant woman that previously was not diabetic becomes diabetic. It generally only lasts during pregnancy. It is also known by the term glucose intolerance of pregnancy. GD is like type 2 diabetes in that the body becomes resistant to insulin. It does not stop producing insulin but the body simply finds the insulin ineffective or it is not produced in sufficient quantity. Whilst it is not completely understood how this occurs in pregnant women the current thinking is that hormones that are secreted during pregnancy act as a blocking agent to insulin hence causing insulin resistance.

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

It is often quite hard to detect the disease because the body is undergoing dramatic changes all the time, many of which a being experienced for the first time. A pregnant woman will be in contact with her doctor frequently during the pregnancy so it is a good idea to mention any unusual changes in the body. Generally the condition will affect women in the latter stages of pregnancy (around 24-28 weeks). A classic symptom of gestational diabetes is excessive thirst or polydipsia. This could be accompanied by frequent urination (polyuria).

Other symptoms for gestational diabetes include :

Fatigue

Nausea

Blurred vision

Bladder or yeast infection.

As you can see, these symptoms could be the result of normal changes during pregnancy so it is important to keep your doctor informed so that he/she can screen you for gestational diabetes.

Treatment of Gestational Diabetes

The aim of treating the disease is to keep the blood sugar levels within a normal range. This will be determined by your doctor after a test to confirm that you have diabetes. Treatment will involve :

A gestational diabetes menu plan

This will be worked out with your doctor or ,more likely, a dietitian. A gestational diabetes diet will factor in your size, age and stage of pregnancy when creating a meal plan for you. In principle, the foodstuffs used will be split into :

carbohydrates,

vegetables and fruits,

meat or meat substitutes (protein),

milk and diary products,

sweets, candy and oils (fats)

More information can be found on how to use these food groups by following the diabetic food pyramid. By following a meal plan for gestational diabetes you will limit the amount of sugar that enters you bloodstream. This will help to control the blood sugar level.

Another essential part of treating GD is a regular exercise plan. This might involve a daily walk or some light exercise. Exercise will burn up sugar in the blood so that the blood sugar level does not get high.

If a diet and exercise are not sufficient in keeping the sugar level within a safe range, your doctor may prescribe a drug, such as Glyburide, to help make the body less resistant to insulin or insulin injections.

A complication of Gestational Diabetes , if left untreated, is that the baby will be larger than normal (known as Macrosomia). This occurs because there is an increase in the blood glucose levels and insulin production that stimulate the growth of the fetus. This may result in a cesarean section during birth.