What is gestational diabetes and will it hurt my baby?
Women that did not have diabetes prior to becoming pregnant but suffer from elevated glucose levels (high blood sugar) during their pregnancy, also known as hyperglycemia. It is unknown exactly what induces hyperglycemia during pregnancy and resulting in the condition known as gestational diabetes, but there is evidence that hormones from the placenta block insulin from taking performing its tasks in the mother’s body. The disabling of the insulin is called insulin resistance and can cause a pregnant woman to require three times more insulin than normal.
If untreated the unborn baby can experience high glucose levels and develops unused energy that ultimately becomes fat. Babies that suffer from elevated glucose during their development can become macrosomia (fat baby) which can damage their shoulders during birth. Babies bore macrosomia have an increased risk to becoming obese and developing type 2 diabetes as adults.
Facts about gestational diabetes.
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1 of 25 pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes.
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Approximately 135,000 women a year have gestational diabetes in the U.S.
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Women who develop gestational diabetes are prone to become type 2 diabetic.
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Being more than 20% over weight will increase the risk of advancing to type 2.
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