Diabetic Pregnancy

Usually, our body breaks down much of the food we eat into a type of sugar, called glucose. Our body makes a hormone called insulin that moves glucose out of the blood and into the cells of the body. In diabetes, the glucose cannot get into the cells, so the amount of glucose in the blood gets higher and higher. This is called high blood sugar or diabetes.

During pregnancy, because of hormonal changes, some women cannot utilize the sugar (glucose) in the blood as well as it should. The level of blood sugar becomes higher than normal. We call it gestational diabetes as it happens during pregnancy. Most of the time, the blood sugar returns to normal and the diabetes go away after delivery.

Diagnosis

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed by blood test and not by the urine. The patient is fasted overnight. In the morning, she goes to the laboratory and an oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) is done. She is given a glass of glucose drink and blood is taken at regular intervals.

A normal fasting blood sugar level during pregnancy is less than 105 mg per dl and less than 125 mg per dl 2 hours after the glucose drink.

Effects On The Mother And Baby

High sugar levels in the blood can be harmful to the mother and the baby. If the diabetes is not treated, miscarriage, stillbirth (baby dies in the womb) and premature birth can occur. The baby tends to be big with excessive amniotic fluid (water surrounding the baby). As a result, the baby may be lying in an abnormal position in the womb. The delivery may be more difficult and chances of having a caesarean section are higher.

After delivery, the baby may suffer from low blood sugar level and jaundice (yellowness in the skin and eyes.) He is at higher risk of having Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), a disease that makes it hard for the baby to breathe. When the baby grows up he is more likely to be obese (very overweight) or get diabetes as he gets older, which can lead to other health problems.

Control Of Blood Sugar

The patient has to follow a diabetic diet suggested by the dietician. She has to change some of the foods she eats. She should avoid eating foods such as cake, cookies, candy, chocolate, 3-in-1 coffee, coca-cola and other soft drinks or ice cream. Blood tests have to be done regularly to check the sugar level.

If the blood sugar is not controlled, insulin injections under the guidance of doctor have to be given. Oral tablets are not advisable during pregnancy. If the patient gets hungry between meals, she should eat healthy foods, such as low-fat milk, low-fat cheese, or fruits. It is also important to eat well-balanced meals. There is no restriction in taking foods such as meat, fish, beans and green vegetables.

2 months after delivery, the blood sugar level is checked to make sure that diabetes goes away. Even if the gestational diabetes goes away after the baby's birth, chances for diabetes in the next pregnancy and later in life are high. It is important that you continue to continue to watch your diet and monitor the blood sugar from time to time.