Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

Before we talk about gestational diabetes symptoms, we need to understand what it actually is. This form of diabetes develops in women who are not normally diabetic during pregnancy, usually in the last three month period and is generally the result of hormone production which results in insulin resistance.

Gestational diabetes symptoms can also result from the temporary inability of the pancreas to increase its output of insulin required while a woman is pregnant. A lack of insulin causes glucose to build up in the blood to unacceptable levels.

This type of diabetes can be found in around four percent of pregnant women, but happily, it rarely stays around after the birth of the baby.

Mother and baby can be affected by untreated gestational diabetes symptoms. The increased blood sugar of the mother passes through the placenta meaning that the baby's blood sugar level is raised also. The baby's pancreas then tries to get rid of the high amount of sugar by producing a higher than normal amount of insulin to get rid of it. This can lead to a condition called microsomatia or fat baby syndrome so called because the extra sugar and insulin make the baby's body product fat.

This, in turn, can result in the baby's shoulders being damaged during birth, the baby having low blood sugar and respiratory problems.

Gestational diabetes symptoms are few; usually increased urination and high level of thirst. Increased hunger, vaginal infections and excessive weight gain can also occur. Gestational diabetes tests during pregnancy will be able to detect risk of the condition developing. If a risk is detected then further tests will be undertaken over a more prolonged period than normal.

Treatment of gestational diabetes symptoms aspires to reducing the blood sugar level to that which is normal in a pregnant woman and involves an exercise plan, a special diet and daily monitoring of glucose levels.

To learn more about the treatment of diabetes and a good diabetic diet, click here.