Diabetes During Pregnancy

There is one major type of diabetes which can affect some would-be mother called gestational diabetes.In this post we will talk a bit more about diabetes in pregnancy. Even if you are not planing in having children or already have had children you may still find the article helpful for you family and friends.

Who gets gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes not occur in most pregnancies and there is only 1-2% chance that diabetes will occur. The risk is greater if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. When diabetes does occur during pregnancy, it is usually during the 3rd trimester but can occur at any time. Usually once the baby is born, the diabetes disappears. If you have had diabetes during pregnancy once, you are more likely to develop diabetes in future pregnancies and are at higher risk of developing diabetes later in life.

How do you test for gestational diabetes?


Usually diabetes in pregnancy is diagnosed as a part of the screening tests carried out during pregnancy. Often the main test used is the glucose tolerance test. This involves fasting the night before the test and then taking a glucose supplement by mouth. After an hour the blood glucose levels are measured. If blood glucose levels are more than 7mmol/l (126 mg/dl) then there is a possibility of gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes and the baby


One of the main effects of diabetes during pregnancy, if untreated, is that the baby can grow large and result in a difficult birth. This could increase the likelihood of a cesarean birth. If you have diabetes during pregnancy, your new born baby`s blood sugar level will be checked regularly.

The main thing to remember is a lot of problem can occur for you and the baby if you do not control your blood glucose levels but if you do, the problems are much less likely.

Treatment of gestational diabetes

An important part of any treatment is to control blood glucose (sugar) levels which involve regular testing as well as other steps to lower blood glucose level. A change in diet alone is sufficient to control blood glucose in most women with diabetes during pregnancy but some times medicines are needed as well. On average, around third of women with diabetes during pregnancy  need medicine which usually involves treatment with insulin injections.

Follow up


6 weeks after the baby has born it is a good idea to have another blood glucose test to check that the diabetes has gone and blood glucose levels have returned to normal levels

Hopefully, after regarding this post you will feel you know a little more about the basic of gestational diabetes. To learn more speak to your doctor or midwife.

If you plan on checking your blood glucose level yourself during your pregnancy then we would recommend any of the Lifescan One Touch Ultra Mini Meter Kit Pink - Model 021-419.