A Few Things You May Not Know about Gestational Diabetes

There was so much information I came across about this thing called gestational diabetes. I remember when I was expecting, I was asked by my gynaecologist to get various blood tests and one of them involved checking for gestational diabetes. It definitely turned out negative and I was told that in most cases, this goes away once you deliver but there are rare cases that need
utmost care.

Gestational diabetes usually occurs between week 24 to week 28 of pregnancy. The term simply means that your blood sugar levels are higher than before but they were normal prior to pregnancy. This also doesn’t mean that your baby too will be affected, in most cases babies delivered are healthy and do not have diabetes.

There are definitely things that make this more uncomfortable and tiresome than it sounds. It brings with it not only high blood sugar levels caused majorly due to hormonal imbalance but also, obesity in pregnancy, high blood pressure and can cause harm to both baby and mom.

A woman who is suffering from gestational diabetes has three battles to be fought. It is impacting her physically, mentally and emotionally as well. If you know someone who is suffering from gestational
diabetes, the most you can do is support them in their journey and also educate
yourself well about this condition.

Here are a few things that you may or may not know about gestational diabetes.

It Is Not Proportional to Your Weight

Yes, obesity can lead to this condition, however not all obese or overweight women will have this. The condition is related more to how your body processes the glucose in the blood, rather than to your weight.

Insulin is Not Always Needed

Insulin is not always a solution to regulate blood levels, the same can be regulated by modifying meal plans and adopting a healthy lifestyle. For women who do require insulin, it is mostly in smaller quantities.

Having Gestational Diabetes Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Have a Normal Delivery

If this condition is carefully managed then it is not always necessary that a C-section is required. C-section usually occurs when there is a difficulty in delivering the baby through the pelvis.

It Doesn’t Last Forever

Yes, the good news is that in most cases it doesn’t last forever. The ordeal is over as soon as you deliver your precious little one. In case it does resurface, it does so years later and that too in the form of type 2 diabetes.

It’s Common Than You Think It is

It’s not something to be celebrated, however, this situation is more common than you know or would have heard of. If this situation is well managed and controlled, there are chances that you will have a smooth delivery and a healthy baby.

It’s Better to Get It Checked Early

While the screening usually happens between week 24 to week 28, women who have had a history of gestational diabetes or who are obese should get it checked earlier too. This way, you will get a head start on your situation and how to handle it.

A mother who has faced this situation can only tell you how difficult or easy this is. Pregnancy in itself is a different phase for every woman. While the journey carves memories, it also has some struggles that it brings with it. All we can say is that whatever it is, is going to be ok. The best thing you can do is give help and support to someone you know who is suffering from it.

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