What Is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational Diabetes is a rare form of Diabetes that affects a small percentage of pregnant women. This can be a frightening experience for a mother-to-be when she first learns of her condition. The expectant mother’s level of physical awareness is already at its’ peak so when she later learns of her Gestational Diabetes condition, this make cause her significant anxiety.
How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?
Most OB/GYN doctors will require that the pregnant woman be tested for gestational diabetes at or around the 24th week of pregnancy. At this time there are a number of hormonal changes in the body which can bring about insulin resistance, especially the hormones that are produced by the placenta itself. At the same time, the fetus will have increased demands for insulin which brings up the total requirement to up to three times the normal quantity. If the insulin required is not available in the body or from external sources, the sugar remains in the blood. This is called as gestational diabetes.
Once gestational diabetes is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe a strict regimen of general exercise and a moderated gestational diabetes diet plan which will help both the pregnant mother and the baby stay away from any dangers caused by the disease. When treated through moderation and close patient care, the pregnant mother and unborn child should not suffer ill effects.
The diet is one of the most important tools in fighting diabetes. It has been observed through a number of medical research studies that a well-designed and carefully prescribed gestational diabetes diet plan can be the key ingredient to successfully treating the disease. A mother-to-be will asked to pay strict attention to the type and quantity of carbohydrates she ingests. Along with general proteins, complex carbohydrates will be stressed over the simple type and foods lower on the glycemic index scale are considered the optimal choice for the gestational diabetes diet plan.
Besides following a balanced and carefully designed gestational diabetes diet plan the pregnant mother should try to break her daily food intake into more numerous smaller meals to give the pancreas sufficient time to break down the sugar in the blood before the next batch is sent. A pregnant woman will need a higher dose of glucose in the blood to nurture the growing baby and with moderated more frequent food ingestion, the pancreas is given sufficient time to break down the ingested sugar, calories, and fat.
Through continuous and simple blood sugar monitoring, regular exercise and a structured diet plan, an expectant mother should be able to lead a normal pregnancy. Paying particular attention to the foods she eats and keying on those that are low in the glycemic index will be the chief factors to success.
Alexander Thomas
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-is-gestational-diabetes-97402.html
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:31 pm
What are the warning signs of gestational diabetes?
I am 27 weeks pregnant, I go in for my glucose test in 3 weeks. I was just wondering if there are any warning signs that I may have gestational diabetes. This is my second pregnancy, I didn’t have any problems with my first pregnancy nor do I have a history of diabetes or high blood pressure or anything like that. I have just been feeling really sick the past few days. Every time I eat I feel very nauseous and sometimes even have stomach pain. Does anyone know if this is normal? Thanks.
April 24th, 2010 at 4:33 am
The warning signs of gestational diabetes are the same as the warning signs of other forms of diabetes. Most commonly people are going to notice significantly increased thirst and urination. As far as I know, stomach pain and nausea after eating are not signs of diabetes.
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April 24th, 2010 at 4:35 am
I have had mnay friends who have had it and as far as I know there aren’t usually any warning signs-that’s why the test is so important. In fact, one of my good friends had a very hard delivery because she ahd it and the doctors did not know and her baby was so large. I (think) if you are very heavy or have extra weight gain, it could possibly out you at higher risk, certain ethnic groups are at higher risk. The stomach flu has been going around where I live, also even if you were not nauseous with baby #1, you could be with #2 just due to hormones. Try to rest easy and know that on the off chance diabetes is the problem you and your OB can work thru it-my friend who had the rough delivery with child #1 did fine with her second because they caught it in time and out her on a meal plan. Good Luck.
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April 24th, 2010 at 4:37 am
Big time swelling and lots of extra water weight. High blood pressure could be a sign too since Gestational Diabetes can lead to Preeclampsia. Stomach pain and nausea aren’t symptoms. If you are a gestational diabetic, there’s a possibility that it could be caught before your glucose testing anyway since urine samples are taken at every appointment. Excess sugar and/or protein (sign of preeclampsia) can spill into your urine, which is what happened with me. It doesn’t sound to me like you have it.
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I was a gestational diabetic.
April 24th, 2010 at 4:39 am
increased thirst and urination
swelling of hand and feet
nausia and dizzyness
feeling shaky before meals
same as if you had high blood sugar.
also the baby may show to be large in size on an ultrasound. as far as your symptomes thats just pregnancy in general.
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April 24th, 2010 at 4:41 am
I’ve been tested at several times in my pregnancy for diabetes because I have been measuring large for dates – I didn’t have any symptoms.
It’s just been decided, with 3 weeks to go, that I don’t have diabetes and my baby is actually the right size, as I ended up having a growth scan.
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April 24th, 2010 at 4:43 am
i have just been diagnosed with it. for the past 4 months i have been having bouts of what seem like the stomach flu. i would get a headache and be very tierd for a day or two and then i would throw up and have stomach cramps. i do honestly believe it has something to do with my bloodsugar.i have been told by a few people that those are not symptoms but i know that i am not getting the flu 2 times a month for 4 months straight.i knew i had high blood sugar cause when i would eat carbs and sweets i would get a racing heartbeat and feel irritable and just icky. my mom has a meeter so i check it and it was in the 220-300 range. my doctor didnt believe me at first and just blew me off and told me the nausea and headaches where just from being pregnant. this is my 3rd so i knew something was different. i had them do the glucose test over a month early and it turns out i was right. so listen to your instincts. and i DO BELIEVE that it can make you feel like you have the flu.
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