Gestational Diabetes
Under normal conditions, our bodies break down the food we eat into nutrients. Sugar, also called glucose, is one of these nutrients and one of our main sources of energy. Our bodies need insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, to carry the sugar from our bloodstream into our cells for fuel, which gives us the energy to run our body systems. With diabetes, this process does not work well. The insulin our body makes is either not enough or not working properly, resulting in a buildup of sugar levels in the blood. Over time, these high bloodsugar levels will cause problems for you and your developing baby.
Risk Factors
- Family history of diabetes
- Being overweight
- Being over the age of 25
- Having had gestational diabetes before
- Having had a prior stillbirth
- Having had a baby previously that weighed more than 9 lb
- Being of Hispanic American, African American or Native American descent
How is it diagnosed?
Gestational diabetes usually develops between weeks 24 and 28. It usually goes away once the baby is born. Most women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms or indications that their blood sugar levels are high, and blood testing during this time is the only way to diagnose it. If you are at a high risk for this condition, you may be tested even earlier.
How is the test done?
You will first need to drink a sugary liquid, then wait one hour, after which a blood sugar test will be done. If the results are above a certain level, you will then need to take a three-hour blood glucose tolerance test. It is necessary to do this test immediately after the first test, and on an empty stomach. You will drink more of the sugary liquid, followed by blood sugar testing. This will be repeated every hour for three hours. The results will confirm whether you have gestational diabetes.
What problems can gestational diabetes cause?
- Large birth size, which can make delivery more difficult
- Increased risk of infection for you
- Toxemia or high blood pressure with swelling for you
- Risk of continued diabetes in you after baby is born
- Low blood sugar levels in your baby, which can be very serious
- Jaundice
- Premature birth, which can lead to breathing problems if lungs are not fully developed
Insurance usually covers testing for gestational diabetes, but speak with your agent or obtain preauthorization if you are unsure. If you’d like to make an appointment or talk to a certified diabetes educator, call Woman’s Hospital Outpatient Clinics at 225-924-8550.
