Gestational Diabetes- Barrier to a Healthy Pregnancy?

The news of pregnancy is a very joyous moment for every woman. The extra care for the baby starts from the very moment when the woman tests positive for pregnancy. The period of nine months for which the baby is in the mother’s womb creates an eternal bond and affection between both of them. Every mother ensures ample care is given to the baby and takes diverse suggestions for the good health of the baby. Our body produces a hormone called Insulin which keeps the blood sugar level maintained but during pregnancy, the mother goes through a series of hormonal changes that can disrupt and interfere with the activity of insulin, and hence diabetes can occur in pregnancy which is referred to as gestational diabetes (GD).

Did you know Diabetes can be a barrier to ensuring good health for the baby as well as the mother?

India is considered the diabetes capital of the world, a condition in which the blood sugar level rises to an abnormally high level. Diabetes is also prevalent during pregnancy, known as Gestational diabetes. Researchers have found that high blood sugar levels can lead to complications in pregnancy as well as the baby’s health leading to various conditions like obesity, overweight, risk of developing diabetes later on in life, etc.

Gestational diabetes is a common disease condition that is found in pregnancy. If untreated it can lead to many complications for the child and the mother some of them are:

Complications that can affect you:

• A sudden increase in blood pressure.
• Preeclampsia- A complication in pregnancy of high blood pressure and can cause organ damage.
• C-section delivery chances increase.
• Risk for future diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
• Heavy bleeding after delivery

Complications that can affect your baby:

• Early birth of the baby or preterm birth due to early induced labor.
• Large baby or excess weight gain (9 pounds or more) by the baby causes difficulty in normal delivery and leads to surgical delivery.
• Difficulty in breathing for the baby due to respiratory distress syndrome.
• Stillbirth can occur if gestational diabetes is left untreated.
• There are chances that the baby might develop obesity or type 2 diabetes later in life.
• Baby can be born with jaundice and can have a low sugar level at birth.

For the diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes, it is important to consult your doctor. In some cases, dietary adjustments or medication may be needed.