Pregnant Women Can Suffer From Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. The expectant mother usually has not had any form of diabetes prior to her pregnancy. While researchers have found out a lot about what gestational diabetes is and methods of managing it, the overall question about why some pregnant women suffer from it and others don't has yet to be completely answered.

Generally 3-6% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes although some studies report a rate as high as 10%. It usually occurs in the second trimester and disappears after the baby is born. However, mothers who have had gestational diabetes are more likely to develop it in other pregnancies and later on in life. Their children are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as they get older.

Scientists have discovered that the main problem in gestational diabetes is the development of insulin resistance. Since insulin is needed for glucose to enter the body's cells, a lack of insulin or resistance to insulin can cause glucose to remain in the blood, where levels will increase. More insulin needs to be produced to counter this level. Pregnant women usually produce as much as 2.5 times more insulin than normally is needed. This insulin cannot be produced by those with gestational diabetes.

The risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include having had it before in a previous pregnancy, having pre-diabetes--where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes--having a member of the immediate family who has type 2 diabetes, and becoming pregnant if you are over the age of 35. Ethnic background is also a risk factor. African-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Native Americans, and Hispanics, and Asians are more likely to get gestational diabetes. Non-Hispanic whites are the least like to acquire the disease.

In addition, the likelihood of gestational diabetes is increased by being overweight or obese, having given birth to a previous child who had a high birth weight, and by failure to have adequate pre-natal care. The risk of gestational diabetes is twice as likely in women who smoke.

Those women who do develop gestational diabetes are more apt to have high blood pressure during their pregnancy and to give birth to a high-weight baby, making the need for a cesarean section at delivery more probable.

The treatment for diabetes in pregnant women is a good diet, plenty of exercise, and, depending on the severity of the disease, insulin injections throughout the rest of the pregnancy. While, a few decades ago diabetes during pregnancy was problematic, today, it is easily treatable and there is no reason that mother and baby won't live healthy, normal lives.



For tips on early signs of pregnancy and pregnancy calendar, visit the Pregnancy Facts website.

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