Pregnantdiabetic

What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know

Source: To Your Health
Author: Betsy Hornick, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.
What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be a trying time if mothers-to-be develop a condition known as gestational diabetes, caused by hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes affects about 7 percent of pregnant women or more than 200,000 mothers a year in the United States. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, rest assured that with proper treatment, both mom and baby can have excellent health.
The Cause
Hormones produced in the placenta that help the baby develop can interfere with the action of insulin in the mother's body requiring her to produce extra insulin. Gestational diabetes develops when her body can't produce enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels within a normal range. Symptoms include blurred vision, an increased thirst, urination, and hunger. However, these symptoms may not be present or can go unnoticed as common conditions of pregnancy.
The Effects
Gestational diabetes generally develops later in pregnancy, after the baby's body has formed but while it's still growing. If the condition is not treated, high levels of glucose in the mother's blood can pass to the baby. The extra glucose provides more energy than the baby needs, so it gets stored in the bay's body as fat and the baby gains extra weight. A larger baby is at risk for injury during delivery and may have very low blood glucose levels at birth, as well as breathing problems. Having a big baby also can increase a mother's chances of a cesarean section delivery. In addition, larger babies tend to become children with a greater likelihood of weight problems and a greater risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.
The Diagnosis
It's difficult to predict who may develop gestational diabetes. A glucose challenge test is usually administered to check for it. This test involves...