Did you know? Up to 9% of women develop diabetes during pregnancy, even if they’ve never had it before! It occurs when blood sugar levels spike, leading to other associated symptoms.

So what does this mean for the baby? And are there any risks that moms-to-be should be aware of? This blog covers everything you need to know about this pregnancy-related complication.

So dive in.

Diabetes During Pregnancy: Explained

When your blood sugar rises above normal levels during pregnancy, it’s called gestational diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy. It changes how the cells in your body metabolise glucose. This happens when the placental hormones interfere with your body’s insulin — the hormone responsible for blood sugar regulation.

The good news is that the blood sugar levels return to normal once the baby is born. However, women with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

Gestational diabetes affects women in the middle of their pregnancy journey (around 24–48 weeks). The condition is diagnosed with a simple blood test and it can be managed with dietary and lifestyle tweaks. Most people who experience diabetes during pregnancy go on to deliver healthy babies.

What To Do If You’re Diagnosed With Diabetes During Pregnancy?

If you’re diagnosed with diabetes during pregnancy, you’re ideally supposed to visit a nutritionist for advice on dietary changes. They’ll guide you on what foods you should take or avoid in order to keep your blood sugar under check.

Your doctor will also ask you to check your blood sugar at home using simple tests. Plus, they’ll create a complete plan to help manage diabetes. This includes regular check-ups to track your health and to make sure your baby is growing well.

What Causes Diabetes During Pregnancy?

Some women have diabetes before they get pregnant, while others get it only during pregnancy. For women with gestational diabetes, the blood sugar levels go haywire due to the placental hormones which interfere with insulin. As your pregnancy progresses, other hormones like estrogen and cortisol also get in the way of how insulin regulates blood sugar, leading to gestational diabetes.

What Are The Risk Factors For Diabetes During Pregnancy?

Diabetes can affect any woman during pregnancy. But the ones who are more at risk include women with :

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• History of gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies
• Family history of Type 2 diabetes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (hormonal imbalance disorder in women of reproductive age)
• Advanced age
• Prediabetes
• Twins or multiples

Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes

The symptoms of gestational diabetes in women include :

• Peeing more often
• Excessive thirst
• Nausea & fatigue

However, you must note that diabetes during pregnancy is usually silent. And in most cases, it’s only diagnosed when your doctor conducts the test for the same.

How Is The Diagnosis Done?

As a part of routine pregnancy checks, women are tested for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. For the test, they’re made to drink a glucose drink and the doctor tests their blood glucose levels after 2 hours.

If these results show high blood sugar, it’s followed up after 3 hours with a 2nd glucose tolerance test. A higher-than-normal test result gives a confirmatory diagnosis for gestational diabetes.

Complications Of Diabetes During Pregnancy

If you have gestational diabetes, both you and your baby might be at risk for certain health complications. The complications for the mother include :

• Frequent need for insulin injection.
• Very low blood sugar levels which can be fatal.
• Ketoacidosis or too many ketones in the blood which can be toxic and life-threatening.
• Need for C-section birth.
• Preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• A higher risk of developing gestational diabetes in future pregnancies and type 2 diabetes in life ahead.

The complications for the baby include :

Stillbirth: Women with diabetes during pregnancy have a higher risk of stillbirths (fetal death). While the exact cause is unknown, it may be linked to the baby’s slow growth in the womb due to poor blood circulation, high blood pressure and damaged blood vessels.

Birth Defects: Diabetic mothers have a higher risk of giving birth to babies with birth defects linked to their heart and blood vessels, brain and spine, urinary system and kidneys, and digestive system. Some of these birth defects may even cause stillbirths.

Macrosomia: Macrosomia or larger than normal baby size may occur in pregnant women with diabetes. This happens because the high maternal blood sugar reaches the fetus. This causes their pancreas to make more insulin. The whole process results in a buildup of excess fat in the baby which is the reason behind their increased size.

Birth Injury: A larger-than-normal baby can make delivery harder and may lead to injuries during birth.

Low Blood Sugar: As we mentioned earlier, the fetus makes more insulin in response to increased maternal blood sugar. But their pancreas may continue to do so after birth, even though there is no more high sugar to metabolise. This can cause low blood sugar in babies.

Breathing Difficulty: Too much sugar in the system may prevent the baby’s lungs from developing fully. This can cause breathing difficulties, especially in babies born preterm.

How To Manage Diabetes During Pregnancy?

The management of diabetes typically involves a twofold approach:

Monitoring Fetal Growth

To make sure that your baby is developing right, your doctor would do the following :

• Ultrasound: To view the fetal organs and tissues and to monitor their size.
• Fetal movement counting: To check if the fetus is doing the right number of movements in a given amount of time.
• Nonstress testing: To check how the baby’s heart rate responds to movements.
• Biophysical profile: To check baby’s movement, heart rate and the amniotic fluid surrounding them.
• Doppler flow studies: To check the baby’s blood flow using sound waves.
• Amniocentesis: To check if the baby’s lungs are mature in the last week of pregnancy.

Keeping Track Of Your Blood Sugar

To do this, you’ll need a device called a glucometer that checks your blood sugar levels at home. It comes with a lancet to prick your finger and the blood is applied to the test strip which is connected to the meter which shows the glucose readings.

These readings along with your food intake will have to be recorded to show to your doctor. Depending on the readings, they can make dietary changes which will help regulate your blood sugar.

Some of you might need insulin injections to manage diabetes during pregnancy. The dose and frequency are decided by your doctor and you can self-inject the medication in your stomach, thigh or buttocks.

Additionally, there are a few dietary tips you can follow to keep your blood sugar in check:

• Avoid processed foods and drinks that contain sugar.
• Eat a nutritionally balanced diet containing proteins, carbohydrates, fibre and fat.
• Eat smaller frequent meals throughout the day.
• Eat your meals at the same time each day.
• Keep your body well hydrated by drinking enough water.

How Can You Prevent Diabetes During Pregnancy?

You can’t prevent gestational diabetes altogether. But you can reduce your risks by eating healthy diets, doing regular physical activity and maintaining an ideal weight.

When To See A Doctor For Gestational Diabetes?

Despite taking the necessary precautions & health measures, you may need to see your doctor sometimes. This includes when:

• You’re unable to manage your blood sugar levels.
• You’re having low blood sugar consistently.
• You’re unable to follow the recommended diet plan (due to food poisoning, allergies, etc)

Final Thoughts

Diabetes during pregnancy is a common complication. Untreated and unmanaged, it can harm both you and your baby. So it’s important that you adhere to the guidelines suggested by your doctor and be vigilant about keeping track of your blood sugar. Also, stick to a healthy dietary routine and lifestyle, to make sure that your baby is born healthy.

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FAQs

How Can I Manage My Diabetes During Pregnancy?

You can manage your diabetes during pregnancy by keeping track of your blood sugar and following the dietary plan recommended by your doctor.

What Foods Should You Avoid With Gestational Diabetes?

Diabetic moms-to-be should avoid, processed foods and sugary drinks.

Can A Diabetic Mother Have A Healthy Baby?

Yes. Diabetic mothers can have a healthy baby with the help of the right disease management strategies and regular prenatal checkups to monitor their baby’s growth.

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