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