What are the risks of fetus for gestational diabetes?
It can be very disturbing for a mother-to-be to know that she might actually be responsible for the baby being born abnormal. Though this might sound scary, it is true that many women with a higher BMI tend to put their babies in the risk zone. That’s why pregnant women need to be wary of the symptoms of gestational diabetes.
Indian women and the risk of gestational diabetes
Over the past few years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the number of young Indian women who have higher BMIs. Added to that, there is a significant increase in women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). However, only a few are aware that these conditions can be a risk factor.
In a report published by International Diabetes Federation, it was established that the prevalence of gestational diabetes has increased dramatically across all ethnicities.
And to further complicate things, it has also been found that Indian women are much more susceptible to have gestational diabetes than their Caucasian counterparts.
This might sound a bad news for all those women out there who wish to get pregnant. However, there is a silver lining to this scenario.
So, for all those women who are not aware of what gestational diabetes is, here are some quick facts about gestational diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes Quick Facts:
Women who were not diabetics before have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a carbohydrate intolerance during pregnancy caused due to the actions of the hormones in the placenta that cause insulin resistance.
Since the body is not able to use the insulin produced, the levels of glucose in the blood increases. This leads to hyperglycemia.
Many women might not experience any noticeable symptoms of gestational diabetes, but some of them might have increased urination, increased thirst, and extreme tiredness.
Pregnant women are generally tested for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy.
While gestational diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise, some women might need medical management.
Possible risk factors for gestational diabetes:
Higher BMI before pregnancy.
Family history of diabetes.
Pregnant woman having prediabetes.
Delayed pregnancy.
Pregnant woman having PCOS.
Gestational diabetes needs to be aggressively managed as it can pose numerous complications to the fetus. Here are a few complications of gestational diabetes that can affect the baby.
Complications of Gestational Diabetes:
Premature Birth: Premature birth can further cause respiratory distress syndrome, and jaundice in the baby.
Macrosomia: This is a condition where the baby is born large (above 4kg).
Shoulder Dystocia: This makes the delivery complicated as the shoulder of the baby gets stuck behind the pelvic bone of the mother.
Future risk for the baby to develop diabetes.
Childhood obesity to the baby.
If you are planning pregnancy or are already pregnant, it is very important for you to check for symptoms of gestational diabetes and get a thorough evaluation.
