well-being healthy pregnancy
gestational diabetes
diagnosis & treatment
BY LYNSEY CALDWELL OWEN, MD, FACOG
Approximately 22 million adults in the United States have a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, a disease that affects the way that the body processes glucose, which is gener- ally obtained from the diet. Glucose is the main source of energy for cells within the body. The pancreas makes the hormone insulin, which helps glucose In diabetes, there is either a problem with the body’s production of insulin or the cells’ acceptance of the hormone, which leads to an increase in the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. If the disease is not recognized and treated, it can affect almost every organ system.
During pregnancy, the placenta releases hormones that may make it harder for some women’s bodies to use insulin. This increase in insulin resistance is what causes gesta- tional diabetes, or diabetes of pregnancy. Even if you have never had a problem with diabetes prior to getting pregnant, it is possible that you could be affected with ges- tational diabetes. The following risk factors would make this diagnosis more likely.
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• A strong family history of diabetes. • Obesity. • A history of diabetes in previous pregnan- cies or having had a baby weighing more than nine pounds. • Multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc.). • Hispanic American, African American, Native American, South or East Asian or • Increasing maternal age. Depending on your risk factors, your
healthcare provider may recommend screen- ing for diabetes early in pregnancy. If you have second trimester, the diagnosis of pre-existing diabetes (before pregnancy) is more likely, as the placenta does not tend to affect insulin Because many studies have shown that gestational diabetes can develop in women without any risk factors, all pregnant women should be screened between 24 and 28 weeks’ gestation. Typically, this screening test involves drinking a beverage with a consis- tent glucose content and then measuring the blood sugar at a prescribed time afterwards.
www.youandyourfamily.com Risk factors,
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