Can You Prevent Gestational Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition in which the body either doesn’t produce enough of the hormone insulin to convert food into energy (type 1), or the body’s cells become resistant to insulin’s effects (type 2). As a result, you end up with high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, and this can damage tissues and organs.

There’s a third type of diabetes – gestational diabetes. It occurs during pregnancy and affects about 9% of women in the United States each year. As November is Diabetes Awareness Month, this is a great time to talk about gestational diabetes and what you can do about it.

Our experienced physicians at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, help women throughout their pregnancies, including if they develop gestational diabetes. While you can’t prevent the condition from developing, you can work with us to manage it effectively, ensuring both you and your baby will be healthy throughout your pregnancy and after delivery.

What causes gestational diabetes?

Researchers aren’t exactly sure what causes gestational diabetes to develop, though they do know it doesn’t mean that you had diabetes before becoming pregnant or will have it after giving birth.

However, it’s believed that the hormones released by the placenta, intended to support the baby's growth, can block the mother’s insulin from doing its job. While the mother’s body attempts to produce more, it may not be enough to overcome the problem, leading to resistance and high blood glucose levels.

Because the exact cause of the problem isn’t known, it’s not possible to prevent gestational diabetes from occurring. However, through careful and frequent monitoring, we can pick up the signs early in its development, meaning we can intervene and manage the condition so you and your baby remain healthy.

Gestational diabetes usually resolves following delivery.

Who is at high risk for gestational diabetes?

Some women are more at risk for developing gestational diabetes:

• Those who’ve had it in the past
• Those who are obese
• Those with a family history of diabetes or prediabetes

Some 90% of pregnant women have at least one risk factor for diabetes, but some risks, such as a prior history, make it more likely you’ll develop the condition than others.

All pregnant women in the US are tested for gestational diabetes. It’s usually performed between weeks 24-28 of gestation using an oral glucose tolerance test. The test involves drinking 75 grams of a sugary solution and then having blood samples drawn about two hours later to monitor glucose levels.

If you fall into the high-risk category, testing is usually performed during the first trimester.

What are the risks of gestational diabetes?

Left untreated, gestational diabetes can lead to risks for both the mother and the baby.

Women with gestational diabetes have a higher risk for preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), difficulty with labor, and the need for a Cesarean delivery. The latter is because a large baby (over 9 pounds at delivery) can injure the mother during a vaginal delivery, and the baby may suffer broken bones or nerve damage during the delivery.

In addition, if the mother has gestational diabetes, she’s at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes later on, and the child bears a heightened risk of developing diabetes, obesity, and metabolic issues as they age.

How is gestational diabetes managed?

Treatment for gestational diabetes includes lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and a moderate amount of exercise, regular blood sugar monitoring, and medication, if needed. You may need to give yourself insulin injections or take oral medications to keep your blood sugar in the normal range.

Exercise has the added benefits of lowering your blood sugar and reducing back pain, muscle cramps, constipation, and sleep problems often common in pregnant women.

You’ll also need frequent checkups. Throughout your pregnancy, we may check your baby with ultrasounds or other tests. If you don't go into labor by your due date, we may induce labor, as a late delivery can raise the risk of health problems for you and your baby.

Following delivery, you can expect periodic checks of your blood sugar levels to ensure things have returned to normal.

If you’re pregnant and haven’t had your blood sugar levels tested yet, it’s time to come into Women’s Health Specialists, PLLC for an evaluation. Call our office at 615-907-2040, or book your appointment online with us today.