What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It is a major health problem that can lead to serious complications for both the mother and the baby. Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed after the 20th week of pregnancy, but it can be diagnosed as early as the 8th week.

If you're pregnant and you have gestational diabetes, you should take steps to prevent it from getting worse.

What are the Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes?

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes can include:

• Frequent urination
• High blood sugar levels
• Weight gain
• Increased thirst
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Yeast infections

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible to get started on the right treatment plan.

What are the Causes of Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects pregnant women and their unborn babies. It is a form of diabetes that develops during the second half of the pregnancy (around 19 weeks gestation) and usually goes away after the baby is born.

It affects around 10-15% of pregnant women and is more common in women who are overweight or obese. Gestational diabetes is caused by the woman's body not being able to properly absorb glucose from food. This can happen because of changes in the way the body processes sugar during pregnancy, or because of the weight gain that occurs during pregnancy.

Risk Factors:

• Overweight and obesity
• No physical activity
• Previous gestational diabetes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Diabetes in an immediate family member
• Previously delivering a baby weighing more than 4.1 kilograms

Complications associated with Gestational Diabetes:

This type of diabetes can lead to complications such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and type 2 diabetes later in life. Other complications are high blood pressure, large waistline, heart disease, stroke, birth defects, and even death.

How can you prevent Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are high enough to cause problems for the mother or her baby but are not high enough to be classified as diabetes mellitus. 

While there’s no cure for gestational diabetes, there are many ways you can prevent it from developing, and live a healthy life with it. Eat a healthy diet that is high in fiber and low in sugar, and exercise regularly throughout your pregnancy. Doing these things will help keep your blood sugar levels in check, and may help prevent gestational diabetes from developing in the first place.

Is there any treatment for Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes can be treated with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Medications are also available to help control blood sugar levels. These medications include oral agents and some injectable agents. Treatment with the medications typically leads to improved blood sugar control and reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.