Diabetes and pregnancy?

If you are in the first months of pregnancy, or you are preparing to conceive, surely you have heard of gestational diabetes, a very common term, but few of us know what it is or what causes it.

Below, we will learn more about it.

Gestational diabetes occurs in women who have never suffered from this disease and develop it during pregnancy due to the metabolic stress of the body during this stage. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal and the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate it.

It commonly appears during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, and usually disappears after the end of pregnancy. When it is detected during the first weeks of pregnancy, it may be an undiagnosed pre-existing condition.

For many women the diagnosis is surprising due to the lack of symptoms associated with the condition. The diagnosis is made by testing blood glucose levels between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes implies an increased risk for the mother to suffer from pre-eclampsia, or high blood pressure.

Diagnosis is made by two methods:

- O 'Sullivan test. A blood sample is taken 1 hour after ingesting a liquid with 50 grams of glucose. It is not necessary to fast.

- Oral glucose tolerance test. Also known as glucose curve, it is performed with a fast of at least 8 hours. A fasting blood sample is taken, then a liquid containing glucose is ingested. After ingestion, blood samples are taken every hour for the next two to three hours.

The main cause associated with diabetes during pregnancy is hormones, hormonal changes cause insulin resistance and as a result an increase in blood glucose levels. Overweight, obesity, and excessive weight gain during pregnancy is a risk factor.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment will include following a strict diet taking care of the type of food, quantity, and time of intake. In addition to physical activity appropriate for the patient. All this will be determined by the physician in charge. More than 70% of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes will be able to keep it under control with simple lifestyle changes.

If the diagnosis has not yet arrived, it is time to make some adjustments to prevent it. Before conceiving, it is recommended to make changes in diet and increase physical activity, all with the purpose of reaching a healthy weight and starting the pregnancy in the best way.

During pregnancy, proper dietary control and physical exercise will help to avoid excessive weight gain and reduce the chances of developing the disease. Remember that losing weight during pregnancy is not recommended, so we will only focus on maintaining healthy habits.