Diabetes gestational in pregnancy. GESTATIONAL DIABETES I've heard about diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy. What is it? Some women develop diabetes only during pregnancy; it is called gestational diabetes. It affects about 10% of all pregnancies. After pregnancy, nearly all women with gestational diabetes return to normal, and the problem disappears. If I have gestational diabetes with this pregnancy, will I have it again? A woman who develops gestational diabetes in one pregnancy has a good chance of developing it in a subsequent pregnancy. Who gets gestational diabetes? Women at greatest risk of developing gestational diabetes are overweight, with family members who have insulin-dependent or diet-controlled diabetes. Occasionally a woman with no known personal or family risk factors develops the problem. Children of diabetic women are more likely to develop diabetes themselves. Daughters of women who developed gestational diabetes are likely to become diabetic during their own pregnancies. If you know your mother developed gestational diabetes, tell your doctor.
A woman's own weight when she was born may indicate her chances of developing gestational diabetes. One study showed women who were in the bottom 10th percentile of weight when they were born were 3 to 4 times more likely to develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. What causes the problem? Gestational diabetes is triggered when the hormonal changes of pregnancy, combined with dietary factors, result in higher blood-sugar levels. How can gestational diabetes affect me? It can cause several medical complications, including kidney, eye, blood and vascular problems. The condition may cause premature labor because the uterus becomes overdistended. A woman may experience a very long labor because the baby is large. Sometimes a baby cannot fit through the birth canal, and a Cesarean delivery is required. You may experience more infections during pregnancy; the most common involve the kidneys, the bladder, the cervix and the uterus. How does gestational diabetes affect my baby? A baby's growth may be exaggerated. In some cases, the baby grows so large it cannot be delivered safely by vaginal birth. After birth, a baby may also have very low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, because the baby's body now controls its own blood sugar. The baby may also be born with hyperbilirubinemia (severe jaundice). Some babies have weak or high-pitched cries, appear shaky and tire quickly. A baby may be unable to nurse well or for long enough to get adequate nutrition, which can affect his or her growth. What will my doctor do if I have gestational diabetes? The best way to treat gestational diabetes is for you to eat properly. Your doctor will probably recommend a six-meal, 2000- to 2500-calorie/day eating plan and may have you see a dietitian. Getting regular exercise and drinking lots of water every day are also very important in this plan. If you have gestational diabetes, your blood-sugar level may be tested at office visits and by you at home. If I have pregnancy diabetes, will I get the other kind of diabetes? More than half of all women who experience diabetes during pregnancy become diabetic later in life.
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