{"id":555,"date":"2020-10-16T10:08:16","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T04:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wecreatedesign.co\/dev\/WP\/fitterfly\/?p=555"},"modified":"2024-06-12T17:04:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T11:34:33","slug":"gestational-diabetes-all-you-need-to-know-risks-treatment-much-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/gestational-diabetes-all-you-need-to-know-risks-treatment-much-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Gestational Diabetes – All You Need to Know | Risks, Treatment & Much More"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the name suggests, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.<\/p>\n

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) rate in India is 26% and is the highest across the globe. Indian women have 11 times more risk of developing GDM than any other women in the world.<\/p>\n

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is caused due to the inability of the body to make extra insulin<\/strong>\u00a0– the hormone which keeps the blood sugar levels within the target range.<\/p>\n

The extra insulin is needed during pregnancy because the hormones from the placenta make your body less responsive to it.\u00a0Failing to meet the extra demand for insulin, causes a spike in blood sugar levels, thereby causing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).<\/strong><\/p>\n

The raised blood sugar level have poor health outcomes for both mother and baby as listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Complications for the Mother<\/th>\nComplications for the baby<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
High blood pressure and preeclampsia<\/td>\nExcessive birth weight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Increased chances of having a surgical delivery (C-section)<\/td>\nEarly (pre-term) birth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Risk for type 2diabetes in the future<\/td>\nBreathing difficulties<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nLow blood sugar shortly after the birth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nObesity and type 2 diabetes later in life<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nStillbirth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Among the ones listed above, one of the biggest risks of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is that the baby may grow larger than the normal.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, there is a high chance of the baby’s shoulders to get stuck during delivery. This greatly\u00a0increases the chances of the cesarean section<\/strong>\u00a0instead of vaginal delivery.<\/p>\n

Who is at risk to develop Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)?<\/h2>\n

Typically, women who are obese or overweight with a BMI of more than 25 are at high risk of developing GDM.<\/p>\n

Other risk factors include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A sedentary lifestyle with lack of exercise<\/li>\n
  2. Previous history of diabetes or borderline diabetes<\/li>\n
  3. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/li>\n
  4. Women who have had GDM in their previous pregnancies<\/li>\n
  5. Family history of diabetes<\/li>\n
  6. Previous baby delivered weighing more than 4 kg<\/li>\n
  7. Race – South Asian women have a higher risk of developing GDM.<\/li>\n
  8. Women who are expecting multiple babies<\/li>\n
  9. Women who have gained a larger than normal amount of weight during pregnancy\n