There are several complications associated with pregnancy that the obstetrician looks for throughout the months of expecting. One complication that almost all women who receive medical care during their pregnancy will be screened for is gestational diabetes. The cause of gestational diabetes is not completely understood but it is thought to be caused by the changing hormones during pregnancy that make the woman insulin resistant.
Gestational diabetes typically occurs in about the 2nd trimester of the pregnancy and brings a lot of risks to both the mother and the baby. A pregnant woman should be sure that her physician tests her for this complication and that if she is diagnosed with the problem she gets treatment.
The Risks To The Mother
The risks with gestational diabetes for the mother are generally the same risks as with other types of diabetes. Untreated diabetes can cause damage to several systems of the body including the nervous system, circulatory system, and the urinary system. The most severe complications with diabetes are diabetic coma and death.
A woman who is diagnosed with gestational diabetes is more likely to have a reoccurrence of the disease within just a few years. Sometimes the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is actually a finding of the disease which has been undiagnosed previously. The woman who is diagnosed needs to understand that this is a potentially life long problem and make lifestyle changes to prevent the complications that can occur.
The Risks To The Baby
The risks of gestational diabetes to the infant are significant and critical. The most severe risks are death either prior to delivery or in infancy. The baby is at risk for being extremely large at delivery, developing jaundice, developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, and developing respiratory distress syndrome after delivery. All these complications are potentially life threatening. Infants with mothers who have gestational diabetes are also at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Preventing Complications From Gestational Diabetes
Every mother to be should be screened for gestational diabetes. The earlier a diagnosis is made the better the outcome will be for both the mother and the infant. Most women are quite successful making dietary and exercise changes that will effectively work to treat the problem. Some women will need to take medications to treat the diabetes but this is usually a temporary measure that will be discontinued after the delivery. With good medical treatment and lifestyle changes the risks of gestational diabetes can be completely overcome.
