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During pregnancy, it is important for a mother to meet the nutritional needs of herself and the fetus in her womb, but sometimes tantalizing foods are loaded with excess salty, sweet, spicy or sour flavors. Therefore, maintaining a healthy body during pregnancy can be a big hurdle for some women.
Having a history of health problems such as hypertension or diabetes before the pregnancy process is one of the concerns for obstetricians in evaluating the health of the mother and baby.
One of the diseases that are of concern is gestational diabetes, which is one of the complications that can occur during pregnancy. This condition is usually only detected when doing routine checks during pregnancy because the condition rarely shows symptoms. But is this condition dangerous and what is the impact on the mother and fetus?
What is Gestational Diabetes ?
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is detected in pregnant women even though they have no previous history of diabetes. This condition can usually occur at any gestational age, but often occurs in the second and third trimester.
This condition occurs when the mother's body experiences insulin resistance, or is unable to produce the necessary amount of insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels to meet the extra needs during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can cause problems for both the mother and the baby in the womb during pregnancy and after delivery. But don't worry because the risks can be reduced if the condition is detected early and managed well.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes ?
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy because during pregnancy, the mother's body makes more hormones and undergoes other changes, such as weight gain. These changes cause the mother's cells to use insulin less effectively, eventually leading to insulin resistance.
All pregnant women have some insulin resistance especially during the third trimester due to hormonal influences during pregnancy. However, some women develop insulin resistance even before they become pregnant, so they have to start their pregnancy with an increased insulin requirement and are more at risk for gestational diabetes.
However, gestational diabetes will usually disappear after the mother has gone through the process of giving birth, but it is also possible if gestational diabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes, especially if the mother has experienced gestational diabetes before.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Unfortunately, gestational diabetes does not have specific symptoms to be aware of, because it generally does not show symptoms. Gestational diabetes is usually only detected during routine examinations with an obstetrician.
But even so there are some symptoms that may be felt in pregnant women with gestational diabetes, such as:
- Changes in micturition habits.
- Nausea.
- Frequent thirst.
- Fatigue.
Is Gestational Diabetes Dangerous ?
Gestational diabetes is a condition that can happen to anyone, this condition sometimes does not cause symptoms but can have a big impact on pregnant women and babies in the womb. Gestational diabetes can cause problems for pregnant women and babies both during pregnancy and after childbirth. However, the risk can be minimized if the condition is detected early and managed properly.
What Happens If Pregnant Women Have Gestational Diabetes?
Pregnant women who experience gestational diabetes should be treated immediately because gestational diabetes can cause a variety of dangerous complications for both the mother and the baby in the womb.
One of the complications that can occur is macrosomia, or the birth of a baby with a weight above normal (above 4 kg). The combination of high maternal blood glucose levels and high insulin levels in the fetus results in high fat deposits, causing the fetus to grow too large. This condition will be very dangerous for both mother and baby because the size of the baby can increase the risk of experiencing premature birth.
Gestational diabetes can also increase the baby's risk of hypoglycemia, which is when their blood sugar levels are low after birth. This is because during pregnancy, pregnant women have high sugar levels so they will have high insulin levels too.
This will be passed on to the baby when they are born, but because they are separated from the mother's womb, the baby still has high insulin levels but no longer has high sugar levels from the mother, so the newborn's blood sugar levels become very low.
In addition, there are several other complications that can also occur, such as:
- High blood pressure.
- Injury during childbirth.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Respiratory problems in the baby when born.
- Birth by cesarean section.
- Stillbirth.
Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes can be detected early by doing routine health checks during pregnancy. Doctors can quickly detect elevated blood sugar levels if pregnant women do regular check-ups. If you are at risk for gestational diabetes, you will most likely undergo a screening test during the second trimester or earlier.
A blood sugar level below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is usually considered within the standard range on a glucose screening test, but each clinic or laboratory may have different standards. If your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, you will need other tests to determine if you have gestational diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
Treatment of gestational diabetes can be done through lifestyle changes, monitoring blood sugar levels, and taking certain medications if needed. Monitoring blood sugar levels should also be done regularly to anticipate if blood sugar levels suddenly spike. Sugar levels can be monitored independently using a glucometer or by having regular check-ups with a doctor.
In addition, lifestyle changes can consist of a healthy diet and physical activity.
- A healthy diet focuses on consuming nutrient-rich foods and beverages such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, and limiting refined carbohydrates, including sweets, so that blood sugar levels in pregnancy are maintained while nutritional needs for both mother and child are also met.
- Regular physical activity or exercise can help control blood sugar levels in the body. By exercising regularly, you have also helped alleviate some of the risks that can result from pregnancy such as back pain, muscle cramps, swelling, constipation, and difficulty sleeping.
Medication will only be used if sugar levels cannot be controlled through lifestyle changes alone. So it is important for pregnant women to always pay attention to the nutrition and health of themselves and the fetus they are carrying by regularly visiting an obstetrician. Treatment with fast and effective action will reduce future risks for pregnant women and their babies.
Thank you for reading this article. Have a nice day.
