Gestational diabetes, also known as gestational diabetes mellitus or GDM, is the presence of high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This is a condition in which your body does not produce enough insulin for proper energy utilization. It can be caused by insufficient insulin production, impaired glucose tolerance, and hormonal changes that cause overproduction of glucose.
Most women don’t realize that gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and may not even know they’re pregnant until they’ve missed their three-month period. This is very dangerous and could cause serious health problems for the mother and baby.
Gestational diabetes is when pregnant women develop high blood sugar levels. In addition to being very unhealthy for the mother and baby, gestational diabetes increases the risk of other medical conditions, such as preeclampsia, preterm labor, and congenital disabilities. We will discuss the symptoms of gestational diabetes so you can know when it’s safe to eat and start exercising again.
Gestational diabetes, also known as pregnancy diabetes, is when a woman has an abnormally high blood glucose level during her pregnancy. This is often called pre-diabetes because it is before the pregnant woman gets diabetes. The symptoms of gestational diabetes include feeling hungry, tired, gaining weight, having blurred vision, feeling dizzy or light-headed, and needing frequent urination.
Gestational diabetes causes
To understand what causes gestational diabetes, we must look at the two hormones responsible for regulating your body’s blood sugar levels: insulin and glucagon.
The pancreas produces insulin, and it helps the cells absorb the glucose in your blood. The pancreas also produces glucagon, which stimulates your liver to release stored glycogen.
When your blood sugar levels are too low, the pancreas releases more insulin and less glucagon, and your body absorbs glucose from the blood. This causes the blood sugar levels to go down. When your blood sugar levels are too high, the pancreas releases more glucagon and less insulin, and your body doesn’t absorb glucose. This causes the blood sugar levels to go up.
The combination of too much insulin and too little glucagon is called insulin resistance. This is the primary reason why your body produces more insulin than normal. Insulin resistance is the leading cause of gestational diabetes, usually starting in the second trimester. This is why it’s common for women to experience gestational diabetes in the third trimester.
Common symptoms of gestational diabetes
Symptoms of gestational diabetes include fatigue, increased hunger, frequent urination, blurred vision, headaches, and lower back pain. You may also notice increased weight gain, thirst, and a sweet taste.
Gestational diabetes can be diagnosed at any point during the pregnancy, and your doctor may order a blood test to determine whether you have diabetes.
How to test for gestational diabetes
You may already have gestational diabetes and not know it. We know that you should eat healthy and exercise to stay fit. But did you know that you should test for gestational diabetes before and after pregnancy?
Gestational diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or properly use it. When you have gestational diabetes, your blood sugar level is higher than normal, and you may have increased thirst and urination.
Women with gestational diabetes can often have no symptoms. The only way to tell if you have gestational diabetes is to have a blood glucose test before you become pregnant and then again during the third trimester. If you have gestational diabetes, you may need to change your diet and exercise habits to manage your condition.
Diabetes during pregnancy
It’s normal for a woman to experience a slight elevation in blood glucose levels during pregnancy. However, if these levels remain higher than the 90 mg/dl range for more than three months, it may indicate that you have gestational diabetes.
Most women who develop gestational diabetes do so during the third trimester of pregnancy. The pancreas becomes less efficient at producing insulin as the fetus grows. When pregnant, your body also makes hormones to help keep your blood glucose levels stable. These hormones can interfere with insulin, causing the insulin to be less effective.
Gestational diabetes is usually temporary, and most women can easily control it with diet and exercise. If you don’t treat gestational diabetes early on, it can lead to problems for the baby.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
To diagnose gestational diabetes, your doctor will perform a glucose tolerance test. You’ll drink a special drink containing sugar and then wait up to two hours before having your blood drawn.
The following are the most common symptoms of gestational diabetes:
* Frequent urination
* Polyuria, or excessive urination
* Frequent, strong urges to urinate
* Nausea or vomiting
* Headaches
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
* Blurred vision
* Chest pain
* Palpitations
* Severe mood swings
* Shortness of breath
* Tingling in the hands and feet
* Numbness and tingling in the extremities
Frequently Asked Questions Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Q: What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?
A: I would say that there are no symptoms. If you think you may have diabetes or gestational diabetes, talk to your doctor. You can have gestational diabetes without knowing it, so it is important to take a test if you feel any signs of the disease.
Q: Why should women with gestational diabetes be tested?
A: Testing helps to prevent problems in the future. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby has a higher risk of having problems when they are older. This means they are at risk for developing diabetes and heart disease as an adult. You might not know you have it until the baby is born.
Top Myths About Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
- Women with gestational diabetes are overweight.
- Women with gestational diabetes are young and thin.
- Women with gestational diabetes will have problems giving birth.
Conclusion
I’m glad you asked. Most women know the symptoms of diabetes, but not everyone knows that gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a condition that occurs in pregnancy. It affects about 8% of all pregnant women, but only 1-5% will develop gestational diabetes. The state is diagnosed by measuring blood glucose levels. If you already have diabetes or know you have high blood sugar levels, you may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar during pregnancy. You might also have blood tests to check your insulin levels.
