Many times working in a hospital can be so frustrating, but at the end leads to exposures and new experiences.
My encounters with pregnant mothers on antenatal care clinic propelled me to go deep into this study.
So here I will look into what actually causes gestational diabetes, how does it affect the baby and the mother, any genetic relationship involved, remedies and preventive measures possible to this health issue, and everything one needs to know about diabetes during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes affecting pregnant women, it's a type of diabetes developed during pregnancy.
Glucosuria is one of the common clinical cases usually detected on many pregnant women, this is clinically important because of the tendency to complicate issues in pregnancy which may eventually lead to cesarean section for delivery.
This is why antenatal care clinic is very important and advised for pregnant women. Therefore, common cases like proteinuria and glucosuria can easily be detected and control measures can be taken on time before complications.
(Note that: Proteinuria is referred to as the presence of protein in urine.
Glucosuria: the presence of glucose in urine.)
Gestational diabetes like most of other clinical cases has many causes which may include
Insulin dysfunction; Insulin is the hormone that regulates the usage of glucose in the body, the malfunction of insulin in the body usually results to increased level of glucose in the body.
The dysfunction of insulin is most common to many pregnant women because of the hormonal changes in them.
This may result in the low production of Insulin in their body, which in effect is not enough to control the glucose levels in the blood.
Insulin resistance; this condition is usually referred to as the inability of the body to use insulin well. (Remember that insulin is a hormone too) in this case the body maybe producing enough insulin, but because of most hormonal changes in their body, this insulin is not well utilized.
A study has it that every woman has insulin resistance during pregnancy, most produce enough insulin to overcome the resistance, while few don't, (especially early and during late pregnancy) and this results to gestational diabetes
Obesity or over weight during pregnancy, there has been many studies linking over weight during pregnancy to gestational diabetes. This suggest that overweighted people may already have insulin resistance.
Family history or heredity; this suggest that person with family history of diabetes is likely to develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
The symptoms that are associated with gestational diabetes are usually mild and non to some people in most cases.
The symptoms that follows it may include;
Glucosuria, unusual thirst (thirstier than normal). Polyurea (frequent urination), blurry vision (mostly in the case of very high level of glucose in the body), there's also a claim of vagina and bladder infection. So from the above you can see that most of this symptoms is occurrent in normal diabetes.
Diagnoses of gestational diabetes is usually done in the medical Laboratories. (Here is where I specialize), it's done with either urine or blood, with urine - usually to detect the presence and roughly estimate the amount present, whereas with the blood sample, we measure the actual amount present in the body (so it can be used to detect hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and as well as monitor glucose therapy). There's a test called Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), commonly referred as 2hours post prandial test (2HPPT), it's a test for glucose done before and after meal in the morning within 2hours intervals, to check and monitor how the body use or respond to glucose. This test is used to confirm the case of gestational diabetes and diabetes mellitus.
The risk associated with unchecked or uncontrolled gestational diabetes is complications involved in the late periods of pregnancy especially during delivery.
This condition during pregnancy result to "overweight of the baby in the womb", because of the surplus supply of glucose in the body during this period, the baby tends to be over fed, thereby gaining more weight which might not be possible for normal delivery unless through Cesarean section.
High blood pressure is also associated in the case of improperly managed gestational diabetes and this condition results to preeclampsia (This is a serious complication in pregnancy that results mainly in high blood pressure most times in fluid retention and proteinuria that usually results in delivery through cesarean section).
The remedies for this clinical condition during pregnancy is only by proper management and maintenance, it's not treatable but it have be known to go away after pregnancy, it's managed with glucose pills and insulin doses as prescribed by the doctor.
Healthy feeding and a checked diet can go along way in maintenance of the blood sugar levels.
Reduction of carbohydrate intake during this period helps alot in the maintenance.
In this condition during during pregnancy, it usually affect the baby by making him/her to grow bigger than supposed, because of the excess supply of glucose, they become over fed, in effect poses a very difficult situation and danger for both the mother and the baby during normal delivery which can cause nervous damage for the baby. (This is why cesarean section is the best and the last resort in a complicated situation).
Apart from the case of having an extra large baby, some other birth defect may occur in the baby in some part of the body like the brain, spines, heart etc.
To the mother, an uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy can expose her many risk such as;
High blood pressure, this usually leads to preeclampsia.
Preterm - early birth.
Miscarriage or still birth - this usually happen in early stage of the pregnancy.
Most importantly, improperly managed gestational diabetes may lead the mother to develop type 2 diabetes in later life. (Note that; type 2 diabetes is usually caused by insufficient production of insulin in the body and most times due to insulin resistance).
Lastly, they have a very high chances of undergoing cesarean section on delivery.
The above makes it so patinent for pregnant mothers to register early for antenatal care, see doctor on any unusual change noticed during this period.
So it's advised for pregnant women to see her doctor regularly during this period of pregnancy.
Plan for pregnancy, this most times relates to family planning too, avoid unprepared pregnancy/child birth.
Child spacing; this help alot to rebuild the body of the woman before it undergo another stages of hormonal change.
Eat well during pregnancy; this goes a long way in nourishing both mother and child during this period and also supply them with natural nutrients
Exercise regularly; this help in healthy living, help them in the hormonal and mood swings.
Take medications and insulin doses as directed.
To keep an eye on their blood sugar levels to avoid hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
Eat more of fruits and vegetables during pregnancy
In summary, gestational diabetes is one of the major issues why antenatal care is very important and necessary during pregnancy
Gestational diabetes, if managed well goes away after pregnancy, therefore child spacing is advised so that the system can take a break and rebuild before next pregnancy.
Finally, never hesitate talk to your doctor on any changes or abnormal signs in your body.
Reference
Gestational diabetes - Symptoms and causes
Warning Signs of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy