| There are many concerns a woman will have | | | | diabetes during the pregnancy. |
| during her pregnancy, and one that can easily | | | | |
| be put to rest with a simple test is | | | | What Does Diabetes in Pregnancy Look Like? |
| gestational diabetes mellitus or more | | | | |
| commonly known as diabetes during pregnancy. | | | | Often diabetes during pregnancy is diagnosed |
| Gestational diabetes can arise during the | | | | before symptoms become obvious. Some of the |
| second or third trimesters, and can cause | | | | symptoms that can show up are an increase in |
| complications for the mother as well as the | | | | hunger, thirst and urination, recurrent |
| unborn child. Diabetes during pregnancy | | | | vaginal infections and increased blood |
| occurs in a relatively small percentage of | | | | pressure. Many women complain of fatigue, |
| expectant mothers, and can often be | | | | although this is not a good test, since |
| controlled by diet and exercise throughout | | | | fatigue is a common symptom of pregnancy. |
| the pregnancy. | | | | Often sugar will show up in urine during a |
| | | | routine test and this will prompt the doctor |
| Many doctors will routinely test for diabetes | | | | to proceed with the glucose test. |
| in pregnancy between 24 and 28 weeks of | | | | |
| gestation, especially if a woman has risk | | | | It is important to diagnose and treat |
| factors that will increase her odds of | | | | diabetes in pregnancy as quickly as possible, |
| developing it. These risk factors include a | | | | since it can cause complications during |
| history of high blood pressure, obesity, | | | | pregnancy. Risks to the mother include raised |
| ethnicity and a family history of diabetes. | | | | blood pressure which can lead to a dangerous |
| Women who have experienced diabetes in | | | | condition known as ecclampsia. It can also |
| pregnancy in the past have a greater chance | | | | increase the chances of a woman developing |
| of developing it again in subsequent | | | | Type 2 diabetes later in life. The unborn |
| pregnancies. Women who are pregnant at an | | | | child can have problems with its heart or |
| older age also have a greater risk of | | | | kidneys as a result of the mother's diabetes |
| diabetes in pregnancy. | | | | during pregnancy. |
| | | | |
| The test will include fasting and then | | | | Diabetes during pregnancy is certainly an |
| drinking glucola, which is a mixture of | | | | unwanted complication, but fortunately it can |
| concentrated sugar. Once the glucola is | | | | be diagnosed easily and treated effectively. |
| ingested, a blood test is done to check blood | | | | The important thing to remember is to stay on |
| sugar levels. If gestational diabetes is | | | | schedule with prenatal visits to the doctor |
| diagnosed, a program of diet and exercise | | | | so that the doctor can stay on top of any |
| will be prescribed to try to control the | | | | potential problems. |