Is gestational diabetes dangerous? Are mother's health and baby's development threatened? A lot of information about this quite common disease that women should know during pregnancy.
What is gestational diabetes?
We eat and drink every day. The amount of carbohydrates from the meal is absorbed into the intestinal tract like glucose and dissolved in the bloodstream. With the help of insulin (a hormone secreted by the pancreas), glucose is introduced into the cells and becomes the body's source of energy.
But if the body does not produce enough insulin, or the elevated glucose causes the insulin to not be processed properly, a large amount of glucose is excess in the bloodstream and is not converted to the body's energy source.
During pregnancy, your body naturally becomes more insulin resistant so more glucose feeds your baby. But if the pancreas is unable to keep up with the increased insulin demand during pregnancy, the blood sugar spikes too high because the cells don't use glucose. This leads to gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes does not last forever. When the baby is born, the blood sugar will most likely return to normal quickly.
Who is at risk for gestational diabetes?
Pregnant mother is overweight and obese.
People with a family history: someone with diabetes, especially first generation diabetes mellitus.
Mother used to give birth to a baby more than 4kg
Previous pregnancy mother had gestational diabetes
The higher the age, the higher the risk, and the 35-year-old pregnant mother is a high risk factor for gestational diabetes.
Pregnant mothers have a history of obstetric abnormalities: stillbirth of unknown cause, unexplained recurrent miscarriage, premature birth, fetal deformity .
Race: Asians are at a higher risk of gestational diabetes.
People with polycystic ovary syndrome.
When is gestational diabetes discovered?
Gestational diabetes usually occurs from the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. Since around the 20th week of pregnancy, the process and activity involved in the production of insulin are all affected by reproductive hormones . This is the reason why gestational diabetes screening is required periodically for a pregnant woman whether or not she has a medical history. So pregnant women with gestational diabetes are dangerous for mother and baby?
Is gestational diabetes dangerous?
3-7% of all pregnant women have gestational diabetes, which poses more risk to the mother and fetus if not followed and treated properly.
How are pregnant women affected?
High blood pressure: causes many complications for mother and fetus such as: preeclampsia, eclampsia, cerebrovascular accident, liver failure, kidney failure, intrauterine growth retardation, premature birth and increased mortality Perinatal.
Enlarged pregnancy causes genital tract injury at birth (rectal damage, pelvic floor prolapse, bladder prolapse).
Urinary tract infections: Inadequate control of plasma glucose increases the risk of urinary tract infections. If not treated, it can easily lead to acute pyelonephritis. Since then, many other complications such as ketoacidosis, premature birth, amniotic fluid infection are caused.
Risk of type 2 diabetes after giving birth.
And the fetus will be affected when the mother has gestational diabetes?
Most babies whose mothers have gestational diabetes are quite healthy if their mothers are monitored and treated. However, there are still possible risks that your baby may encounter:
Excessive fetal growth results from increased transport of glucose from the mother to the fetus. This amount of glucose stimulates the fetal pancreas to secrete insulin, increases fetal energy demand, stimulates fetal weight to increase.
Hypoglycemia and metabolic diseases in the newborn.
Respiratory pathology: Severe respiratory syndrome.
Death at birth.
Newborn jaundice .
Long term effects on the baby. When your baby grows up, he or she will be more likely to be fat and have a high risk of diabetes.
What should a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes do?
Monitor your blood sugar with a blood test device called a blood glucose meter.
A well-balanced and nutritious diet
Maintain physical activity activities such as yoga, walking, ...
Take medication or inject insulin under the prescription of your doctor
Seek fully and strictly according to the doctor's appointment
Dangerous gestational diabetes does not depend very much on the mother. Screening for gestational diabetes helps to detect early, take measures to manage blood sugar; Ensure safety for mother and baby, avoid complications ...
See more:
Dealing with gestational diabetes, 5 things pregnant mothers need to do immediately
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