Gestational diabetes
Prenatal
testing includes routine testing of your urine. This is necessary to detect the
presence of sugar that may indicate diabetes.
If
your system is working normally, sugar is turned into stored energy by the
insulin produced in the pancreas. Diabetes means that your pancreas isn’t doing
its job correctly and there is too much sugar in your blood.
Symptoms
of diabetes include excessive thirst and lack of energy. If your OB-GYN or
nurse-midwife suspects that your body isn’t producing enough insulin, you’ll be
scheduled for a Glucose Tolerance Test, which involves drinking a glucose
mixture and then having your blood tested over a period of several hours
afterwards.
If
you have diabetes you’ll need to change your diet and possibly take tablets or
insulin injections to control your blood sugar levels. Most women find the
condition clears up after their baby is born, although there is more risk that
they’ll develop diabetes later in life.
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: 21/06/2007
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