Gestational diabetes is the most common health problem during pregnancy, occurring in about 4% of all pregnancies. It is important to be aware of gestational diabetes symptoms and alert your health care team if you are experiencing any if these symptoms, so they can catch the condition as early as possible.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels become elevated during pregnancy and increase the risk of complications for mother and baby. It is important for the mother's blood sugar levels to stay within normal limits or the baby may become too large, which can cause problems during pregnancy and delivery.
This is usually a temporary condition that resolves after childbirth. Any gestational diabetes symptoms experienced during pregnancy should resolve when blood sugar levels are brought under control.
The exact cause of gestational diabetes has not been pinpointed, but we know that hormones released from the placenta can cause insulin resistance. Weight gain is another contributor to insulin resistance.
Gestational Diabetes Symptoms
In general, a woman with gestational diabetes rarely experiences any symptoms. Any symptoms that manifest may be mild. They may include:
- Excessive thirst
- Increased urination
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unusual weight loss
- Frequent infections
Because gestational diabetes is so common and symptoms may be absent or very mild, almost all women get tested.
Gestational Diabetes Testing
Most women get tested for gestational diabetes around 24-28 weeks of pregnancy with an oral glucose tolerance test. If you are considered at high risk for gestational diabetes, your doctor might check your blood sugar level at your first prenatal visit, and if your results are normal, you will be checked again at 24-28 weeks.
You may be considered high risk if you have the risk factors listed below. Alternatively, if you have none of these risk factors, your doctor might decide you do not need to be tested.
High Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
- Overweight with a BMI over 30
- Gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy
- Strong family history of type 2 diabetes
- Have glucose (sugar) in your urine
Other Risk Factors
- Over 25 years old
- African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander ancestry
- Have prediabetes
- Have had a baby over 9 pounds
- Have had a baby with a birth defect
- Have given birth to multiples
- Have had a miscarriage or stillbirth
- Have had high blood pressure
- Have too much amniotic fluid
What if I Have Gestational Diabetes?
Most women with gestational diabetes have successful pregnancies and healthy babies.
However, both mother and baby do have an increased risk for developing diabetes in the future. A cesarean section may also be more likely for the delivery.
The mother will be at higher risk for gestational diabetes with subsequent pregnancies and increased chance for high blood pressure.
The most concerning risk for baby is for macrosomia, or being too large, which can lead to shoulder damage during delivery, breathing problems, low blood sugar levels after delivery, and a slight increase in risk for stillbirth.
The good news is that blood sugar levels can be controlled with blood sugar monitoring, diet, moderate exercise, and medication if needed. The condition will usually go away after delivery, unless the mother already had undiagnosed diabetes.
Sources:
Gestational Diabetes. American Pregnancy Association. Accessed: January 10, 2012. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/gestationaldiabetes.html
Gestational Diabetes. PubMed health. Accessed: January 12, 2012. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001898/
What I Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Accessed: January 15, 2012. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational/
