Gestational diabetes:
Is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, usually between the 24th and 28th weeks. It occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels effectively. While many women with gestational diabetes do not experience obvious symptoms, there are some signs and risk factors to be aware of.
One of the most common signs:
Is increased thirst, Expectant mothers may notice they are drinking more fluids than usual and still feeling thirsty. This may be accompanied by frequent urination, which is already common in pregnancy but can become more pronounced when blood sugar levels are elevated.
symptoms:
Other subtle symptoms can include fatigue, blurred vision, and dry mouth. Fatigue may feel more intense than the typical tiredness of pregnancy. Some women also experience nausea or recurrent infections, such as urinary tract infections or yeast infections, due to excess sugar in the urine providing a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.
In many cases, gestational diabetes is asymptomatic and only detected through routine prenatal screening. This usually involves a glucose challenge test (GCT) followed by a glucose tolerance test (GTT) if the initial results are abnormal.
Risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, being over 25 years old, or belonging to certain ethnic groups, including South Asian, African American, Hispanic, or Native American.
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healthy pregnancy:
Early detection and management are crucial to ensure a healthy pregnancy and reduce complications such as high birth weight, premature birth, and future risk of type 2 diabetes for both mother and child. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes are often advised to follow a specific diet, monitor blood sugar levels, and in some cases, take insulin or other medications.