What is Gestational Diabetes and Where to Treat it ?
Diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes (gestation). Gestational diabetes, like other kinds of diabetes, affects how your cells use sugar (glucose). Gestational diabetes produces elevated blood sugar levels, which can have an impact on your pregnancy and your baby’s health. While every pregnancy issue is cause for alarm, there is some positive news. Expectant women can help control gestational diabetes by consuming nutritious meals, exercising, and taking medication if required. Blood sugar control can help you and your baby stay healthy and avoid a painful delivery.
Generally, blood sugar levels in women with gestational diabetes return to normal shortly after birth. However, if you have had gestational diabetes, you are more likely to acquire type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar variations will require more frequent monitoring. Cloudnine Hospital Chandigarh is a maternity center and specializes in all things related to pregnancy. Doctors of multiple specialties work here to ensure the safety of your baby and you. Make an appointment for this hospital through Credihealth now.
Complications that arise from gestational diabetes
Uncontrolled gestational diabetes might result in elevated blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can create complications for you and your baby, including an increased risk of having a C-section. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby is more likely to develop:
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Excessive birth weight: Excessive blood sugar levels in women might cause their infants to develop excessively big. Babies weighing 9 pounds or more are more likely to become stuck in the delivery canal, suffer birth injuries, or require a C-section.
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Early labor and delivery: High blood sugar levels may raise a woman’s chance of going into labor and giving birth before her due date. If the baby is big, early delivery may be advised.
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Babies delivered prematurely to women with gestational diabetes may develop respiratory distress syndrome, a disease that makes breathing difficult.
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Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): Babies born to moms who have gestational diabetes may experience low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) immediately after delivery. Seizures in babies can occur as a result of severe hypoglycemia. Prompt feedings and, in rare cases, intravenous glucose solutions can help the baby’s blood sugar levels return to normal.
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Obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life: Babies born to moms who have gestational diabetes are more likely to acquire obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
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Stillbirth: If gestational diabetes is not managed, a baby might die before or shortly after birth.
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High blood pressure and preeclampsia: Gestational diabetes increases the chance of high blood pressure as well as preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication that produces high blood pressure and other symptoms that can endanger both mother and baby’s life.
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Having a surgical birth (C-section): If you have gestational diabetes, you are more likely to have a C-section.
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Diabetes later in life: If you have gestational diabetes, you are more likely to have it again during a subsequent pregnancy. As you become older, you’re more likely to acquire type 2 diabetes.
Treatment for gestational diabetes
Keeping your blood sugar levels under control is critical for the health of both you and your baby. Close observation may also help you prevent complications during your pregnancy and delivery.
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Your lifestyle, how you eat and move, is critical to maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels. Doctors advise against losing weight when pregnant since your body is working hard to support your growing kid. However, your doctor can assist you in determining weight gain goals based on your pre-pregnancy weight.
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A healthy diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, foods high in nutrients and fiber but low in fat and calories, and it restricts overly processed carbs, especially sweets.
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Physical exercise is an important part of any woman’s fitness strategy before, during, and after pregnancy. Exercise reduces your blood sugar, and as an additional benefit, it can help ease some typical pregnancy discomforts such as back pain, muscle cramps, swelling, constipation, and difficulty sleeping.
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While pregnant, your doctor may instruct you to check your blood sugar four or more times each day, first thing in the morning and after meals, to ensure that it remains within a healthy range.
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Your blood sugar levels will be monitored after birth and again in six to twelve weeks to verify that they have returned to normal. If your tests are normal, which they usually are, you should have your diabetes risk assessed every three years at the very least.
Cloudnine Hospital Chandigarh Doctors will work with you every step of the way to come up with an appropriate treatment plan for you. You can check the full profiles of all the doctors that work here on Credihealth.