Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that some women develop during pregnancy, due to a lack of insulin meant to control blood sugar levels. These levels are usually higher between the 24th and the 28th week of pregnancy.

Diabetes in this form is different from the other types, because it occurs during pregnancy and disappears after birth. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes never disappear.

Gestational diabetes favours hypertension during pregnancy; the child may have extra pounds at birth, which complicates the natural birth process. Women who have had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy are more likely to have it during other pregnancies as well and are also exposed to the risk of getting type 2 diabetes less than 5 years from giving birth.

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones which block insulin activity. This determines an increased need for insulin, in order to maintain blood sugar within normal limits. As the pregnancy advances, more hormones that block insulin will be produced, thus creating a resistance to insulin.

Women who are more likely to develop gestational diabetes are :

-women who have had it during a prior pregnancy (30 to 60 percent with a history of gestational diabetes develop it during their next pregnancy), women who are overweight, women who gave birth to overweight children or required insulin during a prior pregnancy
-women who have a family history of type 2 diabetes
-women who come from ethnic groups which are more exposed to diabetes: Latin-Americans, Africans, Asians
-women who are over 25 when they become pregnant; the risk is increased by 4 percent each year after the age of 25
-women who are under 25 but overweight
-women whose children were under 2 kilograms at birth, or over 4 kilograms
-women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome; although it is difficult for a woman who suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome to become pregnant, the risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy period is significantly higher for these women
-smokers.

The most frequent symptoms which indicate gestational diabetes are thirst, micturition, constant hunger and blurry vision. However, most patients do not have symptoms. Some symptoms may even be overlooked, because frequent urination and increased hunger are part of a regular behaviour during normal pregnancy. If the symptoms are present, it’s possible the diabetes existed prior to the pregnancy.

It’s very important to maintain normal blood sugar levels, in order to prevent overweight babies, low blood sugar levels (for babies) and high blood pressure (for mothers).