Recent studies indicate that gestational diabetes is on the rise. Find out the causes, risk involved, and what you can do to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
One of the most common pregnancy complications, gestational diabetes (high blood glucose levels during pregnancy) affects one in 10 expectant women. Gestational diabetes is potentially dangerous of all the situations that a pregnant lady faces.
A recent study pointed out that Indian pregnant women may show a higher prevalence of gestation
al diabetes in India at 22 to 25% as opposed to the worldwide prevalence figure of 15%, says Rajesh Chhibber, Public Health Foundation of India, Delhi, told PTI.
FabMoms recognizes the seriousness of GDM and its impact on pregnancy and therefore attempts to bring the scientifically established holistic solution to effectively control GDM within the reach of pregnant Indian women.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is diabetes mellitus (a condition that causes high levels of glucose in the blood) that develops in women for the first time during pregnancy.
This happens because they are unable to produce an increased amount of insulin to overcome the resistance levels. In gestational diabetes there is not normally any show of external symptoms normally recognised as characteristic of diabetes for example excessive thirst, tiredness and increased urination.
GDM usually starts between week 24 to week 27 or the beginning of 3rd trimester of pregnancy when the body does not produce enough insulin (the hormone that helps convert sugar into energy) to deal with the increased glucose, or sugar, that’s circulating in your blood to help your baby grow.
What causes gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is caused by a change in the way a woman’s body responds to insulin during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone. It moves glucose out of the blood and into the body’s cells where it can be turned into energy. During pregnancy, a woman’s cells naturally become slightly more resistant to insulin’s effects. This change is designed to increase the mother’s blood glucose level to make more nutrients available to the baby. The mother’s body makes more insulin to keep the blood glucose level normal. In a small number of women, even this increase is not enough to keep their blood glucose levels in the normal range. As a result, they develop gestational diabetes.
Risks involved with gestational diabetes
1. It affects pregnancy
Gestational diabetes increases the risk of having a very large baby (a condition called macrosomia) and possible cesarean birth. High blood pressure and preeclampsia are more common in women with gestational diabetes.
2. It affects the babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes
Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes may have problems with breathing, low glucose levels, and jaundice. With proper prenatal care and careful control of glucose levels, the risk of these problems decreases.
3. Long-term effects on both baby and mother
Women who have had gestational diabetes are at higher risk of having diabetes in the future, as are their children. Women with gestational diabetes will need to have regular diabetes testing after pregnancy. Their children also will need to be monitored for diabetes risks.
Management of Gestational Diabetes
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)* suggests that you should start receiving extra antenatal care as soon as your gestational diabetes is diagnosed. The most important treatment for gestational diabetes is a healthy eating plan and exercise.
“Studies show a significant reduction in serious complications with treatment of gestational diabetes. Treatment includes nutritional counseling, a personalized nutrition plan, and a moderate exercise program,” as per the latest recommendation by American College of Gynaecologists (ACOG)#.
Diabetes Australia & The National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS) Australia, also recommend dietary care for women with gestational diabetes, and says moderate intensity physical activity can help to manage blood glucose levels. **
FabMoms offers holistic programs that offer both planned exercise and nutrition guidance to effectively control gestational diabetes. These measures continue to remain of critical importance even if you recover from GDM after child-birth. One needs to be careful for Future pregnancies. Being the right weight for your height (having a normal BMI), eating a healthy diet and taking regular physical exercise before you become pregnant reduces your risk of developing gestational diabetes again.
Contact FabMoms at 9920991286 or email us at contact@fabmoms.in to know more about our Program for Gestational Diabetes control.
References:
*NICE guidelines to the RCOG, RCOG statement: New pregnancy guideline on managing physical activity, 2013
#Committee on Obstetric Practice released updated recommendations for pregnant women and their Gynaecologist & obstetricians, “Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period”, Number 650, December 2015