Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a medical condition that affects pregnant women. Seeking medical attention as early as possible during pregnancy, can help you be aware of the signs of gestational diabetes.

Pregnant women usually are at a high risk of developing gestational diabetes, even if they had no history of being a diabetic. Diabetes is a condition where you body fails to convert sugar properly.

This excess sugar builds up in the bloodstream and can lead to fatal complications, if left unchecked. Although this condition can be caused by a genetic disposition, diet, and other outside factors, of women who are pregnant are also at risk for a unique form of the disease.

Typically, when the baby is born, the diabetes condition will disappear and may not appear again unless if you become pregnant with another child.

Some of the causes of diabetes is the lack of insulin in the blood or the inability of the body to use the blood sugar effectively. Approximately one in 25 pregnant women is affected by gestational diabetes.

Typically, this type of diabetes usually occurs during the last trimester of the pregnancy but may potentially occur before that time. The unusually high levels of hormones that are present while you are pregnant can completely change your body chemistry. Furthermore, these hormones can make someone have problems converting sugar effectively in their body.

The specific hormones that are believed to be the root cause of the problem usually come from the placenta. Although not all women are likely to develop gestational diabetes, you may be more at risk if you are overweight or expecting a child over the age of 30.

The most common signs of pregnant women having gestational diabetes are extreme hunger and thirst. Although a growling stomach is quite normal to a pregnant woman, any extreme feelings may be signs of a problem. Other symptoms include blurred vision and excess weight gain.