-
Overview
Diabetes affects many individuals worldwide and is diagnosed in young children to older adults. When a woman is pregnant there is a possibility that she can develop Gestational Diabetes. A woman who has Gestational Diabetes will have to regularly test her blood sugar, follow a meal plan and potentially take insulin to keep her blood sugars stable. Typically, your obstetrician will have you take a glucose tolerance test in the second trimester. However, often times the individual will experience symptoms of high blood sugar prior to the second trimester glucose screening if she is a undiagnosed Type 1 diabetic or if she has Gestational Diabetes. Knowing the symptoms will help recognize a problem and acquire treatment sooner.
Types
When an individual has high blood sugar there are noticeable symptoms that occur because the body isn't able to get sugar into the individual's cells to provide energy. The symptoms that occur when an individual's blood sugar is high may be similar to some pregnancy symptoms. Symptoms include extreme thirst, frequent urination, a feeling of dehydration, dry skin, blurred vision and high amounts of sugar in the urine. The first six symptoms are recognizable by the patient herself and, even more importantly, can be recognized early on. However, the last symptom is usually noticed at your doctor's office.
Time Frame
Gestational diabetes typically is diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy during a mandatory screen called a glucose tolerance test. However, in some cases, it may be diagnosed as early as the first trimester or as late as third trimester. An early diagnosis is typically a result of the patient noticing symptoms and going to her doctor or the doctor discovering high sugar levels in the patient's urine. This usually turns out to be a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis.
Significance
It is important to be diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes or Type 1 Diabetes as early on in your pregnancy as possible. The first trimester involves the development of the baby's heart, spine and other organs. High blood sugars during this development phase can harm the baby and potentially cause birth defects. Since Gestational Diabetes is diagnosed later on in the pregnancy there are different concerns. If the mother's blood sugar is high the baby gets a large amount of sugar which will be stored as fat. The end result is a fetal condition call Macrosomnia. This occurs when the baby becomes very large. It can potentially complicate delivery for both the mother and baby.
Effects
High blood sugar takes its toll on both the mother and the child. If blood sugar is high early in the pregnancy, it can cause developmental problems while if it's higher later in the pregnancy it can lead to an overweight baby. After a woman's pregnancy ends she is at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes in the future. However, there are many individuals who develop Gestational Diabetes but never develop Type 2 diabetes. If you are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, you will continue to take insulin, follow a meal plan and test blood sugar regularly after your pregnancy.
Benefits
Knowing when your blood sugars are high can help alert your doctors if there is a problem early on so they can treat it as quickly as possible. This will create a better environment for your baby to grow in and it will increase your physical well-being throughout your pregnancy. In addition, the quicker blood sugars are brought under control, the better the end result is for the mother and child.
Expert Insight
If you discover you have Type 1 Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes, it is crucial that you follow your doctor's advice and monitor your blood sugar regularly. This includes testing your blood sugar in the morning, before meals, one hour after meals and prior to going to bed. If your blood sugar is high, treat it with insulin and continue to test it regularly to make sure the level is going down. It is important to understand that if your blood sugar is tightly controlled the possibility of complications is decreased.
