Gestational Diabetes

This type of diabetes is a temporary form of insulin resistance that usually occurs when a woman is expecting. It results from excessive hormone production in the body, or the inability of the pancreas to make the additional insulin that is needed during pregnancy in women who have no prior history of diabetes. Without enough insulin, sugar builds up in the blood to high levels. This is also called hyperglycaemia.

Gestational diabetes affects about four per cent of all pregnant women although it usually goes away after child birth. However, women who experience gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes later.

Untreated gestational diabetes can lead to problems for both the mother and child. Insulin does not cross through the placenta to the baby, but sugar and other nutrients do. Extra blood sugar goes through the placenta, giving the baby a high blood sugar level. This results in the baby's pancreas producing extra insulin to get rid of the blood sugar, which can lead to microsomatia or a fat baby syndrome. Microsomatia develops because extra blood sugar and insulin cause the baby's body to produce extra fat.

Babies with microsomatia are prone to other health problems. This includes damage to their shoulders during birth. Because of the extra insulin newborns may have very low blood sugar levels at birth and may also have a higher risk of breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin run the risk of being obese and as adults are at risk for type-2 diabetes.

According to The American Diabetes Association, pregnant women who are of 25 years or older, and overweight before they became pregnant, or have a family history of diabetes, should be screened for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. By then, the placenta begins to make the hormones that lead to insulin resistance. The screening test measures the blood sugar response to glucose consumed in a drink.

The treatment of gestational diabetes should start quickly to prevent adverse effects to the mother and the baby. The objective should be keeping blood sugar level equal to those of pregnant women who do not have gestational diabetes. Treatment comprises of special meal plans and scheduled physical activity along with daily blood sugar testing, to keep it under control.