What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that can occur during pregnancy. It means that you have higher blood sugar levels than usual during pregnancy. This condition affects approximately 2-10% of pregnancies in the United States alone. If you have gestational diabetes, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention as it can cause problems for both the mother and the baby’s health. The causes of gestational diabetes are not exactly known, but it can be prevented. Read on to learn about the symptoms, the risk factors associated with it, how to lower your risk of developing it, the connection between gestational diabetes and insulin, how it affects the baby, how it is diagnosed, and how it can be treated.

Symptoms associated with gestational diabetes

The symptoms of gestational diabetes are generally not aggressive. You may experience mild symptoms like:

• Lethargy

• Excessive thirst

• Urinary urgency and frequency

• Weight gain

• Snoring

Risk Factors

Gestational diabetes is linked to various risk factors, which may be genetic or environmental. Some of the important risk factors are as follows:

• Maternal age over 35 years

• Mother is overweight, with body mass index (BMI) between 25.0 to 29.9

• A close relative has type 2 diabetes

• Conditions that cause insulin resistance include polycystic ovarian syndrome and acanthosis nigricans, a skin disorder.

• High blood pressure before pregnancy

• Previous pregnancy was also affected by gestational diabetes 

• Excessive weight gain during present or previous pregnancy

• Taking corticosteroids

• Pregnant with twins, triplets, or multiples

• Hypothyroidism

How can you lower your risk of gestational diabetes?

You must maintain a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy or when planning to start a family. To lower your risk of gestational diabetes, maintain a healthy lifestyle and prepare your body for pregnancy. If you are overweight or obese, take the following steps to prepare for pregnancy:

• Improve your diet with healthy foods

• Start an exercise regime

• Lose weight

You should consult your doctor to determine the best approach for achieving a moderate weight. Even losing a few kilos of excess weight can prevent gestational diabetes. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, engaging in regular physical activity at least thrice a week is important, regardless of weight. Aim to exercise moderately for 30-60 minutes in each session. Additionally, embracing a nutrient-dense diet that incorporates fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is advisable.

In your 1st trimester, consult your doctor on diet and blood sugar monitoring. If you're pregnant, don't try to lose weight unless your doctor suggests it. If you've had gestational diabetes before, tell your doctor if you're planning to have another baby. Early screening will identify risk factors. Most pregnant individuals undergo routine blood tests, including gestational diabetes testing, in 2nd trimester.

Connection Between Gestational Diabetes and Insulin

Diabetes of any kind can be related to the hormone insulin, which controls glucose levels in the blood. Insulin helps sugar to move from the blood into the cells. When your body doesn't produce enough insulin or fails to use it effectively, it results in high glucose levels in the blood. As you gain weight, your body becomes less efficient at using insulin, which means it needs to produce more insulin to regulate the sugar in your blood.

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that block insulin, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels after eating.

Your baby receives nutrients from your blood during pregnancy; hence, it's essential for nutrients to remain in your blood for a longer time so your baby can receive them. A certain degree of insulin resistance is usual during pregnancy.

Your glucose levels could increase during pregnancy if:

• You were insulin-resistant before conceiving

• You had high blood sugar before pregnancy

• You have comorbid conditions that make you insulin-resistant

Effect of gestational diabetes on the baby

Gestational diabetes can cause macrosomia, a condition where your baby grows too big. Macrosomia increases the risk of a C-section delivery. Gestational diabetes can affect your baby in several ways. Your baby can develop breathing problems, jaundice, and low glucose levels due to gestational diabetes. Poorly managed gestational diabetes increases the risk of stillbirth and post-natal distress. Babies born of mothers who had gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing the following:

• Obesity

• Metabolic syndrome

• Type 2 diabetes

• Insulin resistance or sensitivity

How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?

There are two types of blood tests to diagnose gestational diabetes. The tests are as follows.

• Glucose Challenge Test

The glucose challenge test is a type of blood test where blood is drawn one hour after you drink a sweet liquid containing glucose. You don't need to fast for this test. If your blood glucose level is 140 mg/dL or higher, you may need an oral glucose tolerance test while fasting. If your blood glucose level is 200 mg/dL or higher, you may have type 2 diabetes.

• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) measures blood sugar levels after an 8-hour fast. A healthcare professional will draw your blood, and you will be asked to drink a liquid containing glucose. Your blood will be drawn at an interval of every hour for 2 to 3 hours to diagnose gestational diabetes. If your blood glucose levels are high in two or more blood tests (i.e., fasting, 1 hour, 2 hours, or 3 hours), you have gestational diabetes. Your healthcare team will explain the meaning of your OGTT results.

Treatment Options

Diet and exercise are primarily recommended to treat gestational diabetes. You should also avoid eating food items rich in carbohydrates. Avoid white flour, white rice, white pasta, potatoes, and processed foods. You should reduce your portion size and exclude sugar from your diet.