Some mothers develop signs of diabetes only while they are pregnant, the symptoms disappearing once they have given birth.
In most women, the body will respond to an increase in sugar content by increasing its production of insulin, which will eliminate the excess sugar. However, some women, especially those who are diabetic, or have tendencies towards diabetes, may be unable to produce enough insulin and they will show increased levels of sugar in both their blood and urine. In women who were not previously diabetic, this is known as gestational diabetes.
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Urine tests
During visits to your doctor or midwife, your urine will be tested for sugar (glycosuria). Normally, sugar does not leak through the kidneys into the urine unless the blood sugar levels are higher than normal or there is a reduced threshold during pregnancy. If there is sugar in the urine at one of the antenatal visits, a random blood test for glucose can be done. This can show a normal sugar level, thus indicating that the threshold for sugar to appear in the urine was low.
Blood tests
If the blood test shows a high sugar level like in diabetic patients, the patient undergoes diabetic treatment. If the blood test shows a sugar level above normal but not at diabetic level, a fasting blood glucose concentration can be measured whereby the blood is re-tested in the morning before having anything to eat. Depending on the blood sugar levels with this test, the patient undergoes routine follow-up or is treated as diabetic.
The glucose tolerance test
An alternative to differentiate true diabetic patients from those with a low threshold is the glucose tolerance test, which your doctor may order to assess the body’s response to sugar in the bloodstream.
The baby needs glucose to grow. However, a too high sugar level in the mother´s blood will lead glucose to pass through the placenta, which can cause an exceptionally large baby. A big baby will obviously make labour and delivery more difficult and it also increases the risk of delivery by caesarean section.
Mothers who are at higher risk:
Obese women
Mothers who have had other problems in pregnancy such as previous miscarriages or preeclampsia
Older mothers (the tendency to develop diabetes increases with age)
Women who were large babies when they were born (nine pounds or more)
Women who have a history of diabetes in their family
While treatment may only involve adjustments to your diet, it may also involve receiving insulin. With early diagnosis and good antenatal care, the baby should be healthy and normal.
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