Did you know there are various forms of diabetes that can affect women? One main condition we encounter at Memphis Obstetrics & Gynecological Association is gestational diabetes. Today, we’re going to discuss what causes gestational diabetes and some of the treatment options for it.
The Causes
Gestational diabetes will typically occur during pregnancy when the body is unable to create enough insulin to meet the increased needs. There are several factors that contribute to the development of gestational diabetes:
- Hormonal Changes: During a woman’s pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that can interfere with the body’s ability to effectively use insulin. This can lead to insulin resistance and cause unusually high blood sugar levels.
- Insulin Resistance: As the placenta grows in size, it releases hormones that can block insulin from functioning properly. When the body can’t produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, gestational diabetes can occur.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Women who are overweight or have a higher body mass index (BMI) prior to pregnancy are at greater risk of developing this condition. Insulin resistance is much more common in individuals who are overweight.
- Genetics: Having an existing family history of diabetes can increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes. If your relatives have type 2 diabetes, your risk may also be higher.
- Ethnicity: Some ethnic groups, such as African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American, carry a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes.
- Age: Women who are older than 25 years, and particularly those over 35, are more prone to developing gestational diabetes.
- Previous Gestational Diabetes: When women have had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy, they are at increased risk of developing it again in subsequent pregnancies.
- Multiple Pregnancies: Women carrying twins or more babies are at a higher risk of gestational diabetes due to the increased demands on the body.
Prevention and Treatment
If you do find yourself at risk for gestational diabetes or experience this condition, the following can be helpful for both treating and preventing cases.
- Monitor Blood Sugar Levels:
-
- Regular Testing: We recommend using a glucose meter to check blood sugar levels as directed by your Memphis Obstetrics & Gynecological Association provider. Keeping track of these levels help ensure that they remain within the target range.
- Engage in Regular Physical Activity:
-
- Exercise: You should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. This can take many forms, such as walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga. Exercising helps regulate blood sugar and supports your overall health.
- Follow a Healthy Diet:
-
- Balanced Meals: Try to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Complex carbohydrates with a low glycemic index can be a key tool to help manage blood sugar levels.
- Portion Control: Monitoring portion sizes can help you avoid overeating and retain stable blood sugar levels.
- Use Insulin or Oral Medications:
-
- Insulin Therapy: In some cases, changing your diet and exercise habits alone is not sufficient to control blood sugar levels. Your provider may prescribe insulin injections. Insulin is a material that helps lower blood sugar levels effectively.
- Oral Medications: In some cases, other oral medications may be prescribed if insulin is not needed or is not preferred.
- Plan for Delivery:
-
- Delivery Considerations: Our team of professionals will help you to consider the best approach for delivery, as gestational diabetes can influence the timing and method of your delivery. A vaginal delivery or a cesarean section can be considered based on your condition.
- Monitor Fetal Health:
-
- Regular Check-ups: Make it a point to all prenatal appointments to monitor the health of both you and your baby. At Memphis Obstetrics & Gynecological Association, we may opt to perform additional tests to ensure the baby is growing appropriately and is not at risk of complications if gestational diabetes is present.
- Postpartum Care:
-
- Blood Sugar Testing: After delivery, we will help monitor your blood sugar levels to ensure they return to normal. Gestational diabetes usually resolves on its own after childbirth, but it is critical to diligently continue monitoring to detect any ongoing issues.
- Follow-up: This also includes a follow-up glucose test six to 12 weeks after delivery so that we can confirm that blood sugar levels have returned to normal. If necessary, our team will offer guidance on long-term health and diabetes prevention.
Prioritizing Your Health
Pregnancy can be scary on a lot of levels—we know. One of those is the potential of developing conditions that can make for a more difficult pregnancy. But at Memphis Obstetrics & Gynecological Association, we hope that you can have confidence in our quality of care. We’re proud to serve women across the Mid-South at our Bartlett, East Memphis, Germantown, or DeSoto offices.