Signs Of Gestational Diabetes

Signs of gestational diabetes are sometimes not present at all, but some women experience excessive thirst and abnormally frequent urination as indications that there is something awry. Screening for this illness is a routine part of prenatal care for all women during pregnancy. Most doctors recommend a glucose challenge test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy because the condition can't usually be detected until then. If a patient is thought to be a high risk, however, the test may be done sooner. The test consists of drinking a sugar solution that tastes like an extra-sweet soda pop, then testing the blood an hour later. If the blood sugar is over 140 mg/dl, in the first test, a second test is done. After fasting overnight, the patient is given a highly concentrated glucose solution, and blood sugar levels are checked every hour for three hours. At least two instances of abnormally high blood sugar levels confirm the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Approximately four percent of all pregnant women experience signs of gestational diabetes in the United States each year. Since the signs of diabetes are so subtle, and no one knows what causes the disease, testing is very important during those weeks mentioned above. This condition occurs after the baby's body is formed, and is growing. For that reason, this illness does not cause the kinds of birth defects that are sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had the illness before pregnancy. Untreated or poorly controlled, this disease can hurt the baby. Throughout all of this experience, the Christian mother will be praying for hers and the baby's health while she follows doctor's instructions. She will expect her prayers to be answered. "I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. (Psalm 116:1)

When a mother-to-be exhibits signs of diabetes, the pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin doesn't lower the blood glucose levels. Extra blood glucose in the mother results in the baby having high blood glucose levels too. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat. This can lead to macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. These babies face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth. Newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth because of the extra insulin made by the pancreas. They are also at risk for breathing problems, obesity, and as adults may develop type 2 diabetes.

Treatment should begin immediately upon diagnosis. Controlling sugar intake is essential for the health of the baby and to avoid delivery complications. Most women showing signs of gestational diabetes find they can control their blood sugar with diet and exercise. There are those who may also need medication with the lifestyle changes. For both groups, monitoring blood sugar is the most important part of a treatment program because it lets the patient and her doctor know whether the blood sugar is within normal range. There seems to be good reason, based on a 2005 study, to aggressively treat patients with this illness. Aggressive treatment includes dietary advice, frequent blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections. Routine care doesn't always include insulin injections. The study found that women who received the aggressive treatment for signs of diabetes had significantly fewer childbirth problems, lower rates of depression, and enjoyed better health-related quality of life three months after giving birth than those receiving routine care.

The diabetic patient has to learn to monitor her blood sugar by drawing a drop of blood from a finger using a small needle, then placing the blood on a test strip inserted into a blood glucose meter--a small, computerized device that measures and displays the blood sugar level. This may be done four or five times a day because the levels change according to how much a person has had to eat, and even the time of day may influence the reading. The tests will reveal whether the patient is maintaining a healthy level or not. The doctor will also monitor blood sugar levels during labor. If the mother's blood sugar rises, so will the baby's, which could lead to low blood sugar right after birth. It's easy to see why addressing signs of gestational diabetes immediately is so important.

The diet for someone showing signs of diabetes should include more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while cutting back on animal products and sweets. The doctor may recommend a dietitian who will work with the individual patient for meal plans that take into consideration her height, weight, exercise habits, food preferences, and the blood sugar level. Exercise along with the diet can prove very helpful in keeping blood sugar levels where they belong. Physical activity causes the sugar in the blood to move to cells where it's used for energy. Exercise helps prevent some of the common discomforts of pregnancy such as back pain, muscle cramps, swelling, etc., so there are plenty of good reasons to move as much as possible during this very important phase of a woman's life.

There will be close monitoring of the baby of a woman showing signs of gestational diabetes to be sure it is getting enough oxygen and nourishment, and to collect information about the baby's breathing, tone, movement, and the volume of amniotic fluid in the uterus. Most women with signs of diabetes deliver healthy babies in the normal way, but sometimes a cesarean delivery is necessary.



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