Symptoms & Causes of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It happens when the placenta’s hormones (supporting baby growth) block the mother’s ability to make or use insulin, making it a common concern in pregnancy.
Unlike Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, GDM is temporary, only occurring during pregnancy and usually resolves after the mother delivers her baby.
Gestational diabetes can lead to possible complications such as a c-section, low blood sugar, and preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). That’s why regular screenings and prenatal care are essential for early detection and management.
In this article, we’ll explore signs of gestational diabetes, as well as risk factors, screening, management, and prevention. Read on to learn more.
Gestational Diabetes Causes: Key Risk Factors to Know
As mentioned earlier, hormones from the placenta can hinder insulin activity. Such hormones are estrogen, cortisol, and the human placental lactogen. As the placenta grows, so does the production of these hormones, making the risk of insulin resistance greater.
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas to help manage your blood glucose (blood sugar). When sugar enters your blood, insulin helps it move into your cells for energy or storage, signaling the pancreas to stop producing insulin.
However, with insulin resistance, cells don’t respond to insulin’s signal, causing sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream, and the pancreas continues to produce more insulin.
Initially, your body can handle the sugar by making extra insulin. But later, it can’t keep up, and sugar levels rise, resulting in gestational diabetes.
Aside from pregnancy hormones leading to insulin resistance, other factors that may increase your risk of getting GMD include:
- Being older than 25
- Have a family history of diabetes
- You’ve developed gestational diabetes before
- You’re overweight before getting pregnant
- Have a sedentary lifestyle
- Have PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
If you find yourself at higher risk for GDM, it’s important to consider preconception counseling with your trusted healthcare provider. This will help you understand your risk and develop a plan to manage it effectively before and during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes symptoms usually aren’t noticeable. This highlights the importance of routine prenatal tests and pregnancy checkups to identify potential health concerns early on.
However, if blood sugar levels become too high, some women may begin to notice symptoms. Common signs include:
- Increased thirst and appetite
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss (even though you feel hungrier)
Diagnosis & Screening
Typically occurring around the 24th week of pregnancy, gestational diabetes is diagnosed through two common tests that pregnant women undergo for screening.
- Glucose Challenge Test (GCT): A non-fasting test between 24-28 weeks. In this test, you’ll drink a sugary liquid. After an hour, your blood sugar level will be checked by drawing a blood sample from your arm.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): A fasting test for confirmation. It will be performed if your GCT showed abnormal results. With OGTT, you’ll do overnight fasting and drink a sugary liquid. Blood sugar will be checked at intervals over a few hours.
Women who are at higher risk for gestational diabetes may be tested early in their pregnancy, most likely in their first prenatal visit.
Potential Complications
For the Baby
- Excessive birth weight (macrosomia)
- Low blood sugar after birth (hypoglycemia)
- Risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolism problems later in life
For the Mother
- Increased risk of preeclampsia (hypertension during pregnancy)
- Higher chances of requiring a C-section
- Problems with labor
- Greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes postpartum
- Effects on bone health–a study shows that past diagnosis of GDM is linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, particularly those who are obese.
Gestational Diabetes Treatment & Management
First, you need to always ensure that your blood sugar levels are within safe limits. Self-monitoring is important, check for your levels four or more times daily.
Moreover, you’ll need to make lifestyle adjustments to keep blood sugar levels at a healthy range. It includes adding fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and fibrous food into your diet.
Regular exercise also helps lower your blood sugar and relieve common pregnancy discomforts such as back pain, swelling, and trouble sleeping. Seek nutritional services from a reliable healthcare provider for safe and personalised guidance.
However, if physical activity and diet aren’t enough for blood sugar management, insulin injections or oral medications may be given by your healthcare provider.
How to Prevent Gestational Diabetes Before and During Pregnancy
Before Pregnancy
Before getting pregnant, you can reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight and having a balanced diet. Go and engage in regular physical activity, and consider preconception counselling to assess your risks.
During Pregnancy
You shouldn’t try to lose weight while you’re pregnant, instead, you should gain some to maintain your baby’s health. It’s best to consult your doctor about the ideal weight for you for a healthy pregnancy. If you want to stay physically active during your pregnancy, it is essential to seek a doctor’s guidance as well.
When it comes to nutrition, you can also follow a gestational diabetes-friendly diet. The best foods to eat include non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, and carbohydrates such as brown rice, oats, and sweet potatoes, among others. Consult a healthcare provider for a healthy diet plan during your pregnancy.
Postpartum Care & Long-Term Outlook
Women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. They are also more likely to develop it again when they conceive.
That’s why monitoring sugar levels post-partum is significant for detecting any abnormalities early on and taking the necessary steps to prevent or manage them.
After giving birth, your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels and repeat the test in six to twelve weeks to confirm that your levels have returned to the normal range. Once they are stable, you will need to have a diabetes risk assessment every three years.
However, it’s not just mothers who are at risk of developing diabetes; their children also have a greater chance of experiencing obesity and type 2 diabetes as they grow older.
Being watchful of their health in this aspect is important as they age to help prevent long-term health complications. Encourage healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and routine check-ups for your children.
Gestational Diabetes Is Manageable With the Right Care
Women can still have a healthy pregnancy with proper gestational diabetes monitoring. This includes the right lifestyle changes, nutrition, physical activity, monitoring, and most especially a trusted gynaecologist to guide you through the process.
Book an appointment with a professional gynaecologist for expert guidance on gestational diabetes management. Led by board-certified Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Sheri Lim, Eden Women’s Health provides compassionate and quality healthcare services to women of all ages.
Our services include prenatal, postnatal, and menopause and perimenopause care services, among others. Contact us to learn more.