Pregnant women have heard stories about, or have personally experienced, the “orange drink” they must consume between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Women have been telling each other tales about the sticky, overly sweet taste of the drink and having to wait in the doctor’s office for blood testing.
But the discomfort is worthwhile for this significant screening. It helps pregnant women identify and get a diagnosis for gestational diabetes.
If gestational diabetes is not treated and controlled, there are significant health hazards for your unborn child, including:
• High birth weight;
• Low blood sugar at delivery;
• Preterm birth and respiratory distress syndrome
Signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes
Most pregnant women don’t exhibit gestational diabetes symptoms or indicators. In actuality, a blood sugar test, which is normally administered between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, is the only way to know.
Some women may pick up on the following mild gestational diabetes symptoms and signs:
• A rise in thirst
An indication of gestational diabetes may be excessive thirst and drinking more than usual.
• Fatigue
Because growing and supporting a kid requires a lot of work, pregnant women are exhausted. You can feel considerably more exhausted than usual if you have gestational diabetes, though.
• Mouth ache
Despite drinking a lot, a dry tongue may also be a sign of gestational diabetes.
- Preventing pregnancy-related diabetes
- Although gestational diabetes cannot entirely be avoided, there are steps you may do to reduce your risk, such as:
- Eat well, stay active, and trim down before getting pregnant.
Detection and management of gestational diabetes
Around 24 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor will ask you to schedule a glucose challenge test. You will be required to wait at the office for an hour after drinking a glucose solution during your appointment. You’ll take a blood sugar test after an hour. If test findings are abnormal or if further test is required, your doctor will let you know.
A glucose tolerance test, the follow-up examination, is also conducted there. You must fast the entire night. When you get to your doctor’s office, your blood will be drawn. You’ll be given a glucose solution to consume following the initial blood test. The following three hours, your blood will be examined once every hour. If the blood sugar levels in two out of the three blood draws are higher than usual, gestational diabetes is diagnosed.
If you do have gestational diabetes, your doctor will talk to you about the best course of action. This may entail:
• More frequent check-ups with the doctor to assess your blood sugar levels
• Healthful diet
• Restricting refined sugar and carbohydrates
• Home blood sugar monitoring
You may require insulin if you are struggling to control your gestational diabetes. What is best for you will be determined in part by your doctor.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that gestational diabetes typically goes away after birth, women who have had it have a 68% higher chance of having cardiovascular disease in their later years compared to women who did not. No matter when the pregnancy occurred 40 years ago or last year. There is a risk involved. Women should be conscious of their higher risk and ensure that their healthcare professionals are informed of their medical history.
