Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy, in women who have not previously been diagnosed with diabetes, and is more common after the 24th week of pregnancy, due to insulin resistance caused by pregnancy hormones.
This type of diabetes normally disappears after childbirth and rarely causes symptoms, although in some cases blurred vision and extreme thirst may appear. However, it must be treated with guidance from the obstetrician to avoid complications for the woman and the baby. , such as premature birth, baby too large for gestational age, or neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.
Therefore, it is important to correctly follow the treatment proposed by the obstetrician, with an adequate diet, physical exercise or the use of medicines, such as oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin, as there is a high risk of complications, in addition to the woman being able to develop diabetes. type 2 mellitus in about 10 to 20 years, or having gestational diabetes in another pregnancy.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
The main symptoms of gestational diabetes are:
- Increased appetite;
- Excessive thirst;
- Dry mouth;
- Weight gain;
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Blurred vision;
- More frequent urinary infections;
- Frequent vaginal candidiasis;
- Excessive tiredness.
Most cases of gestational diabetes do not lead to the appearance of signs or symptoms. Furthermore, as these symptoms are common during pregnancy, the doctor must request a glucose test at least 3 times during pregnancy, with the first test generally being carried out in the 20th week of pregnancy. Check out other symptoms of gestational diabetes and the tests that can be done.
Don’t ignore your symptoms!
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made by the obstetrician through blood tests that measure glucose levels, and a result above normal values is generally sufficient to confirm the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Check the reference values for gestational diabetes tests.
Therefore, the doctor must request a fasting blood glucose test, which measures 8-hour fasting glucose levels, carried out once in each trimester of pregnancy.
In addition, another test requested by the doctor is the glycemic curve, also called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), carried out by analyzing fasting blood glucose levels, and after 1 hour and 2 hours after eating. drinking a sweetened liquid provided by the laboratory to check glucose levels over time.
The blood glucose curve test is also routinely requested between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, as part of prenatal exams, even if the fasting blood glucose test shows normal values. See the complete list of all prenatal exams.
Blood glucose calculator
To find out if it is gestational diabetes, enter your result into the calculator below:
Possible causes
Gestational diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, as a result of increased production of hormones by the placenta, or decreased production of insulin by the pancreas, which causes a greater amount of sugar in the blood, resulting in the development of diabetes. .
Some factors can increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes, such as:
- Family history of diabetes mellitus, especially father or mother;
- History of gestational diabetes in another pregnancy;
- Having had a baby weighing more than 4 kg in a previous pregnancy;
- Overweight or obesity, with a BMI above 25;
- Pre-diabetes;
- Do not practice physical activities;
- Low good cholesterol (HDL);
- High triglycerides;
- Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Gestational diabetes can appear at any stage of pregnancy, however, it is more common from the 24th week of pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, and must be treated by the obstetrician to avoid complications for the mother and the baby.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to promote the health of the mother and baby, avoiding complications such as low weight for gestational age and respiratory and metabolic disorders, for example. It is important that the treatment is carried out under the guidance of a nutritionist, obstetrician and endocrinologist so that blood glucose control is effective.
Treatment for gestational diabetes must be done by changing eating habits and practicing physical activity so that blood glucose levels are controlled:
1. Nutrition in gestational diabetes
Nutrition in gestational diabetes must be guided by a nutritionist so that there are no nutritional deficiencies for the mother or baby. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women eat foods with a low glycemic index, such as unpeeled fruits, as well as reducing the amount of sugar and simple carbohydrates in their diet.
It is recommended to give preference to foods low in carbohydrates or that contain complex carbohydrates, which are those that have a low glycemic index due to the high amount of fiber they contain. Therefore, it can be recommended that pregnant women consume whole grains, meat, fish, oilseeds, milk and dairy products, and seeds. See more about nutrition in gestational diabetes.
It is important that blood glucose is measured on an empty stomach and after main meals, as this means that both the pregnant woman and the doctor can control blood glucose levels, and according to the glucose levels, the nutritionist can change the eating plan.
2. Exercise
Exercise is important to promote pregnant women’s health and keep circulating glucose levels balanced. Practicing exercises during pregnancy is safe when no factors that could put the life of the mother or baby at risk are identified. Therefore, it is important that the exercises are started after medical authorization and that they are carried out under the guidance of a physical education professional.
The practice of exercise by pregnant women with gestational diabetes promotes a reduction in the amount of glucose during fasting and after meals, without the need to use insulin to control circulating glucose levels.
Although it is considered safe, pregnant women need to take some precautions before, during and after exercise, such as eating something before exercising, drinking water before, during and after the activity, paying attention to the intensity of the exercise and paying attention to the appearance of any sign or symptom that is indicative of stopping exercise, such as vaginal bleeding, uterine contractions, loss of amniotic fluid, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing before exercise.
3. Use of medicines
The use of medicines is normally indicated when diabetes is uncontrolled and high blood glucose levels represent a great risk for the pregnant woman and her baby, and when glucose levels do not regularize even with changes in eating habits and exercise. regular.
Therefore, the doctor may recommend the use of oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin, which must be recommended by the doctor and used according to his or her guidance. It is important that women measure their blood glucose daily and at the times indicated by the doctor to check whether the treatment is effective.
Possible risks of gestational diabetes
Complications of gestational diabetes can affect the pregnant woman or the baby, including:
These risks can be reduced if the woman follows the treatment correctly, which is why pregnant women with gestational diabetes must be monitored in high-risk prenatal care.
How to avoid gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes cannot always be prevented because it is related to hormonal changes typical of pregnancy, however, the risk of developing gestational diabetes can be reduced by:
- Be at your ideal weight before getting pregnant;
- Do prenatal care;
- Gain weight slowly and gradually;
- Eating healthy and
- Practice moderate exercise.
Gestational diabetes can appear in pregnant women over 25 years of age, obese women or when the pregnant woman has an intolerance to sugar. However, it can also develop in younger or normal-weight women due to hormonal changes.
