GDM English – What is gestational diabetes?
Diabetes that develops during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. It occurs because your body cannot produce enough insulin (a hormone important in controlling blood glucose) to meet its extra needs in pregnancy. This results in high blood glucose levels. Gestational diabetes usually starts in the middle or towards the end of pregnancy.
GDM English – How common is gestational diabetes?
- Gestational diabetes is very common.
- It may affect up to 18 in 100 women during pregnancy.
GDM English – Weight gain
Weight along with well-regulated blood sugar, your weight and weight gain during pregnancy have a big influence on the weight your fetus gains. The higher your BMI is and the more weight you gain during pregnancy, the more your fetus will gain also. Therefore, there is a risk that the fetus will be overweight even before birth. It is a good idea to aim for a small weight gain in the first half of the pregnancy, so there is room for a greater weight gain in the second half of pregnancy.
GDM English – Risk factors for gestational diabetes:
- Your age more than 25 years
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher
- You have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
- You have previously given birth to a large baby, weighing 4.5 kg (10 lbs) or more
- You have had gestational diabetes before
GDM English – What does gestational diabetes mean for me and my baby?
- Most women who develop diabetes during pregnancy have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies but occasionally gestational diabetes can cause serious problems, especially if it goes unrecognized.
- Diagnosing and treating gestational diabetes reduces these risks.
- It is important to control the level of glucose in your blood during pregnancy.
- If your blood glucose is too high, your baby will produce more insulin, which can make your baby grow bigger and increases the likelihood of having your labour induced, caesarean section, serious birth problems and stillbirth.
- These risks are higher if gestational diabetes is not detected and controlled.
- A baby that is making extra insulin may have low blood glucose levels after birth and is more likely to need additional care in a neonatal unit.
- Your baby may also be at greater risk of developing obesity and/or diabetes in later life.
- Controlling your levels of blood glucose during pregnancy and labour reduces the risks of all these complications for you and your baby.
GDM English – Will I need treatment?
- If you do need insulin, your specialist diabetes nurse will explain exactly what you need to do.
- Your need of insulin varies from week to week during pregnancy. The more you gain during pregnancy, the greater the increase in insulin dose you can expect.
- This will include showing you how to inject yourself with insulin, how often to do it and when you should check your blood glucose levels.