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Diabetic Pregnant Women - Gestational Diabetes
By
Michael Russell
Gestational diabetes affects approximately 3 to 5 percent of all
pregnant women in the United States. This article addresses issues
such as diet, exercise, blood sugar level and general medical care
of women with gestational diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease where the body uses food improperly. The
body gets its main energy source from glucose or from a breakdown of
complex carbohydrates such as starches. Once sugar and starches are
digested, they enter the blood stream in the form of glucose.
Insulin assists the body in getting the glucose from the blood
stream to the muscles and other body tissues. The pancreas is where
insulin is manufactured. Glucose cannot get into the body cells
without insulin. Instead, glucose accumulates in the blood and is
excreted into the urine through the kidneys.
Women with gestational diabetes have plenty of insulin. The
problem is that the insulin is partly blocked by hormones made in
the placenta. This is called insulin resistance. In women without
gestational diabetes, the pancreas makes enough insulin to overcome
the insulin resistance. But when the pancreas makes all the insulin
it can and it still cannot overcome the effect of the placenta's
hormones, that woman has gestational diabetes.
Factors associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes
are obesity, diabetes in the family, a stillbirth, or a child with a
birth defect. Studies have shown that women older than 25 are also
at greater risk. The Council on Diabetes in Pregnancy recommends
that all pregnant women be screened for this disease. One of the
most common screening methods is the 50-gram glucose screening test.
The key to preventing complications is control of blood sugar
levels immediately after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. A
comforting fact is that gestational diabetes does not cause birth
defects. But many babies are born much larger than average. The baby
can grow too large for a vaginal birth and a cesarean section
delivery is necessary. In some cases, the baby is born with
hypoglycemia. In this case, the baby will be given glucose
intravenously. These two examples are manageable and preventable.
The key is careful control of blood sugar levels in the mother
immediately after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
An important component in caring for gestational diabetes is a
strict diet. There is a wide assortment of literature that details
dietary guidelines for women with gestational diabetes. Her health
care practitioner will teach her how to measure her blood glucose
level at home. Additionally, she may have to check her urine for
ketones (these are by-products of the breakdown of fat). Ketones may
be found in the blood and urine as a result of inadequate insulin.
It is very unlikely that the baby will have diabetes. However,
the child may be at risk for Type II diabetes. Other problems such
as hypoglycemia and jaundice may also occur.
More than likely, gestational diabetes goes away immediately
after delivery. But these women are at risk of developing it in
future pregnancies. Make sure to have screening tests during
subsequent pregnancies in the first trimester.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to
Diabetics
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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