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Causes of Gestational Diabetes

Causes of Gestational Diabetes are various factors as this condition occurs when your blood sugar levels become high during pregnancy. Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that appears between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Developing Gestational Diabetes doesn’t mean you already had diabetes before you got pregnant. The condition appears because of the pregnancy. Women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have their own, separate challenges when it comes to pregnancy.

Pregnancy

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

In pregnancy, gestational diabetes occurs when your body cannot produce enough insulin. Your pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that acts as a key to allowing blood sugar into your cells for energy.

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The body produces more hormones and undergoes other changes during pregnancy, such as weight gain. Cells in your body become less effective at using insulin as a result of these changes, resulting in insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes your body require more insulin.

It is normal for pregnant women to have some insulin resistance during late pregnancy. Some women have insulin resistance before becoming pregnant. During pregnancy, they require more insulin and are more likely to have gestational diabetes.

What Are The Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational Diabetes does not usually cause any symptoms. However, some women may experience:

  • Tiredness
  • Thirst
  • Nausea
  • Frequent urination

What Are The Risks Factors Associated With Gestational Diabetes?

Even though any woman can develop Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy, some of the factors that may increase the risk include the following:

  • Family history of diabetes
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Prediabetes or also known as impaired glucose tolerance
  • Having given birth previously to an infant weighing greater than 9 pounds
  • Age (women who are older than 25 are at a greater risk for developing gestational diabetes than younger women)

How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?

To diagnose Gestational Diabetes, your doctor will test your blood sugar during pregnancy. The test may have two parts including:

  • Glucose challenge test: You drink a sweet liquid. After about an hour, you’ll have a blood test to check your blood sugar level. If your blood sugar is high, your healthcare provider will do a glucose tolerance test.
  • Glucose tolerance test: This is an oral test that is only done if your challenge test results are unusual. You fast before the tolerance test. Your healthcare provider draws your blood before and after you drink a sweet liquid. The tolerance test can confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
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Treatment for Gestational Diabetes

Specific treatment for gestational diabetes will be determined by your doctor based on expectations for the course of the disease, age overall well-being, medical history, and the extent of the disease. Treatments may also depend on your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies. Treatment for gestational diabetes focuses on keeping blood glucose levels in the normal range this may include:

  • Insulin injections
  • Daily blood glucose monitoring
  • Special diet
  • Exercise

Medications Used for Gestational Diabetes

Before taking any medications, it is important to consult your doctor first for appropriate dosage, especially during pregnancy.

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