What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a condition unique to pregnancy, and occurs because the body fails to make enough insulin to cope with the increased blood sugar levels.
One of the first indications is that the baby will get very large. This will be noticed at one of your prenatal checks and you’ll be referred for tests. Your baby will often be referred to as being large for dates, which means he’s measuring bigger than average for his gestational age.?? Symptoms of gestational diabetes include excessive thirst and urination, fatigue and sugar in your urine.
You’ll be screened for gestational diabetes at some point in your pregnancy (if you have a family history of diabetes or you’re overweight you’ll be checked frequently). You’ll be given a sweet liquid to drink and after an hour or so your blood will be drawn so sugar levels can be checked.
What’s the treatment?
You can control gestational diabetes with a sugar-free diet but if this isn’t sufficient to lower your blood sugar level you may need insulin injections or oral medication to control it. Your pregnancy will be closely monitored, as gestational diabetes can cause preterm labor or other complications during labor and birth. If your baby is very large he may be delivered early.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 04/07/2007
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