Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects up to 10% of pregnant women and causes high blood sugar that can affect your health and the health of your unborn child.
Why does it happen?
Maintaining neutral blood sugar levels is critical to our overall wellbeing. Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to remove excess glucose from the bloodstream. Why should this happen? In simple terms, the food we eat is broken down into glucose, which ultimately serves as our primary source of energy. The transfer of glucose from our bloodstream to our cells is the job of insulin. In a healthy body, the pancreas produces exactly as much insulin as is needed. In an unhealthy or genetically predisposed body, the insulin response is hindered to such an extent that high blood sugar levels are no longer controlled for a long period of time, which ultimately leads to diabetes.
Good to know: During pregnancy, even healthy people who normally don’t have blood sugar problems have an impaired ability to produce and respond to insulin. In susceptible women, this can lead to gestational diabetes.
When should you be tested for gestational diabetes?
“The ideal time to test for gestational diabetes is between 24 and 28 weeks. If it is detected, it is usually very easy to use with no risk to the mother or child, ”says Sandton-based gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Peter Koll. “But in SA we tend to test too little for diabetes in general and gestational diabetes in particular.”
According to Razana Allie, Diabetes Nurse Educator at Diabetes SA, gestational diabetes is affecting more and more women in South Africa, partly due to lifestyle choices before and during our pregnancy. However, in some cases, there is simply insulin resistance that makes pregnancy worse and which is very difficult to avoid. “As with so many of these diseases, your genes load the gun, but your surroundings pull the trigger,” says Dr. Koll. “If you have a family history of diabetes or are obese yourself, you are likely at higher risk. But there are no hard and fast rules and I would advise that everyone get tested. “
Gestational diabetes, if undiagnosed or poorly treated, can lead to a variety of complications for both mother and child, including the risk of becoming obese and developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Early diagnosis, on the other hand, usually means that the disease can be treated through lifestyle changes, including following a low blood sugar (low GI) diet and increasing appropriate exercise, which is sometimes easier said than done.
Is there a cure for gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is controlled rather than cured, and in a true case, the condition usually goes away after birth. Awareness of blood sugar levels through self-tests and an adequate low-sugar diet is the best way to treat the disease without medication. However, this is usually only possible if the diagnosis is made early in pregnancy.
In extreme cases, or if diagnosed late, doctors may prescribe insulin or one or more drugs that can be used to artificially control glucose levels.
Am I at Risk of Developing Gestational Diabetes?
You are at an increased risk of gestational diabetes if you:
- Are obese
- Have a strong family history of diabetes
- Do you have sugar in your urine?
- Had a big baby before
- Are over 35
- Have high blood pressure
- Have had unexplained miscarriages
Say no to sugary snacks
Nutrition therapist Hannah Kaye advises her patients to follow a low GI diet by avoiding foods that release energy too quickly. “A good rule of thumb is to avoid white foods and focus more on leafy greens and low-carb snacks like chicken pieces, hummus, avocados, and lentil spread. Avoid sugary snacks masquerading as healthy alternatives and read labels to identify hidden sugars in all of its many forms. “
