Gestational Diabetes As If Being Pregnant Wasn't Stressful Enough

==== ====Here is your link to a Free E-book on Diabetes:http://adf.ly/53Nwy==== ====Pregnancy can be many different things. It can be planned, or unplanned. It can be a time of greatexcitement and expectation. On the other hand, many women find the whole process to bedaunting, and stressful. This is all normal, and can be seen as just part of the colorful world of thenew parent. However, what if, on top of all this, you develop gestational diabetes? You findyourself with a condition you didnt know you had, the consequences of which can be serious.Gestational diabetes mellitus, to give its full name, or GDM, occurs in pregnant women with nopast history of diabetes, who have high levels of glucose in their blood. Although there is nodefinite cause, hormones produced during pregnancy reduce the effectiveness of insulin in thebody in controlling blood sugar levels. Ordinarily, the pregnant womans body produces extrainsulin to deal with this. However, should it fail to do so, this can lead to gestational diabetes.The symptoms of gestational diabetes are difficult to detect, as they are common features of mostpregnancies. Excessive thirst, needing to urinate frequently, and tiredness are all commonsymptoms among pregnant women.At the same time, the problems caused by gestational diabetes are similar to those faced by otherdiabetic mothers, and can be serious. There is an increased risk of premature birth. The babytends to be large for its gestational age, and during the birth, this can lead to shoulder dystocia.This is a situation where the babys head is delivered but the shoulder gets stuck, and is anemergency situation. The baby also has an increased risk of jaundice, low blood sugar levels, andpossible future problems with obesity and diabetes. There is also a risk of pre-eclampsia (acondition that can affect the health of the baby), and caesarean delivery. Usually, the mother isfine once the baby is born.The good news is that it is treatable. Introducing changes to the diet, maintaining blood glucoselevels, and using insulin therapy (if necessary); will reduce the risks to mother and baby.Risk factors for gestational diabetes include its occurrence in a previous pregnancy, and anyfamily history of type 2 diabetes. Older women, certain ethnic groups, and obese women, are allmore likely to develop it. However, around half of all women who develop the condition have noneof these risk factors at all.Diagnosis is a staged process. A glucose challenge test may be used at around 24 weeks into thepregnancy to check for possible gestational diabetes. Following no food being eaten overnight, aglucose drink is given, and samples taken at intervals to test the bodys reaction to it. This canhighlight the need for further testing, namely a glucose tolerance test, which is more involved andgives a more definitive result.

Between 2% and 5% of all mothers develop gestational diabetes, making it one of the mostcommon health complaints during pregnancy. Screening for it would seem to be an obvious idea.With symptoms which are similar to any other pregnancy, it is a difficult condition to diagnose, andyet it can have life threatening consequences.Total Diabetes Supply offers Discount Diabetes Supplies at up to 65% off retail prices. We carrybrand name glucose test strips, glucose monitor kits, lancets and devices, blood pressuremonitors, glucose control solutions, urinalysis test strips, and much more. We are committed toproviding quality discount diabetic supplies. We strive to ship all orders within 24 hours and ourknowledgeable customer service team is ready to assist you with any questions you may have. Letus be your trusted source for Online Diabetes Supplies.Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Mcfee==== ====Here is your link to a Free E-book on Diabetes:http://adf.ly/53Nwy==== ====

Gestational Diabetes As If Being Pregnant Wasn't Stressful Enough

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