* Gestational diabetes

what is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that some women develop during pregnancy. About two to 10 percent of future moms develop this disease, considered one of the most common of pregnancy. The percentage is much higher among Latina women.

Diabetes is a complicated disease. In short, what it means is that blood sugar levels are very high. Next we explain what is happening.

When you eat, the digestive system breaks down most of the food into a type of sugar known as glucose. Glucose enters your bloodstream and, with the help of insulin (a hormone produced in the pancreas), the cells in your body transform glucose into energy.

However, if your body does not produce enough insulin, or if the cells in your body do not respond well to insulin, glucose stays in the blood instead of reaching the cells and becoming energy.

It is possible that now that you are pregnant, your cells do not respond as well to insulin, due to your hormonal changes. For most moms-to-be, that's no problem since the pancreas simply creates more insulin. However, other women can not, and therefore their blood sugar levels rise too high. That is when gestational diabetes or pregnancy diabetes appears.

In most cases, this type of diabetes disappears when the baby is born but, once you have had it, you have a higher risk of it appearing in other pregnancies and also of developing type 2 diabetes, later.

How can I know if I have gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes usually does not present any symptoms. That is why almost all pregnant women undergo a test called a glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks.

However, women who are at high risk of diabetes (such as Latinas), or who have signs of diabetes, doctors who need it are trying out their first prenatal visit and again between 24 and 28 weeks, if the result goes out negative.

If the test is positive, it does not mean that you have pregnancy diabetes, but that you need a more detailed test to know for sure.

What factors increase the risk of pregnancy diabetes?

It is considered that, as a Latina, you have a high risk of suffering from gestational diabetes. In addition, the American Diabetes Academy states that if you have any of the conditions listed below, the risk is even greater and it is important to have a glucose test before:

You are obese (your body mass index is above 30).
You have had pregnancy diabetes before.
They find sugar in your urine (glucose in the urine is checked at all prenatal visits, so you have to urinate in a cup).
There are several people in your family who have diabetes.

Some studies indicate that more than 76 percent of Latinas in the United States are overweight. Of that percentage, it is considered that 45 percent suffer from obesity. That, coupled with the genetic predisposition to develop gestational diabetes, are two important reasons for you to have a glucose tolerance test.

Some doctors will also test you sooner if you have other risk factors, such as the following:

You have previously had a very large baby (the limit for some doctors is a weight of almost 4 kilos (8 pounds with 13 ounces) and for another 4.5 kilos (9 pounds with 14 ounces).

You have had a baby who was born without life due to unexplained causes.
You have had a baby with a birth defect before.
You have high blood pressure.
You are over 35 years old.

In addition, a study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the United States, in March 2010, found a relationship between excessive weight gain during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, and the risk of developing gestational diabetes. The researchers found that the highest risk corresponded to women who were overweight and who were not Anglo-Saxon.

Keep in mind that many women who develop gestational diabetes do not have any of the risk factors. That is why most doctors recommend all pregnant patients to be tested for this condition, between week 24 and 28 of pregnancy.

How can gestational diabetes affect my pregnancy?

The vast majority of women who have diabetes during pregnancy have healthy babies. You could keep blood sugar levels under control by simply making changes in your diet and exercise. Sometimes medications are also needed.

Latinas with diabetes are prone to develop more complications. It is important that you report on how to prevent and reduce its effects and that you have a stable medical supervision.

How can gestational diabetes affect my baby during pregnancy?

If gestational diabetes is not treated properly it can have very serious consequences for your baby in the short and long term.

When this diabetes appears, there is a lot of sugar circulating in the blood that comes directly to the baby. That forces your baby's pancreas to produce more insulin to process glucose. Too much sugar and insulin in the blood can make your baby very fatter while still in the womb, especially in the upper part of the body.

If the baby is very large, vaginal delivery may be more difficult or a cesarean section may be required. This excess weight is known as macrosomia. Babies with macrosomia sometimes can not pass well through the vaginal canal and sometimes, due to its size, one of the shoulders gets stuck.

This situation is called shoulder dystocia. If this happens, the doctor and his assistants will have to perform a series of special maneuvers so that the baby can be born.

In extreme cases, the baby can suffer damage to the nerve of the arm or even break a bone, although in 99 percent of the cases these problems do not leave sequels. (In some cases, very rare, the baby lacks oxygen temporarily during this process, which could cause brain damage).

Giving birth to very large babies can also cause wounds and injuries to the vagina or require a large episiotomy (a cut on the outside of the vagina).

Because of all the risks involved in delivering a very large baby, if the doctor suspects that your child may weigh more than normal, you may be recommended a cesarean section. But if you have diabetes well controlled, do not worry because the chances that you have a baby with excess weight are very small.

Some studies have found a relationship between severe pregnancy diabetes and an increase in stillbirths or stillbirths in the last two months of pregnancy. Women who suffer from this condition may also have a higher risk of developing preeclampsia, especially if they suffered from obesity before becoming pregnant or if their blood sugar levels are not very well controlled.

What should I do if I have gestational diabetes?

It depends on how serious your diabetes is, but usually you have to carry out a pretty rigorous record of your child's blood sugar levels. There are several types of devices that you can use, but the most common are using a small tongue or metal strip, which is inserted into a glucose meter. Talk to your doctor to recommend the most appropriate for you.

To keep your glucose levels under control, you will be instructed to do the following:

Follow a balanced diet: The American Diabetes Association recommends consulting a registered dietitian, who can help develop a specific meal plan, according to your height, weight and activity level.

Your diet will have to contain the correct balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, while providing you with the right amount of vitamins, minerals and calories. To keep your glucose levels stable, it is essential that you do not save food, especially breakfast, and that you avoid sugary products, such as candy, cookies, cakes and soft drinks.

You also have to avoid simple carbohydrates, such as wheat tortillas and white bread. Because they digest easily, they enter the bloodstream too quickly, the plant rises to high levels of glucose. It is better to consume whole grains, corn tortillas and wholemeal bread. These whole carbohydrates take longer to digest and require your body to produce less insulin for the sugars that get into your blood.

You may find all this complicated, but it is easier to bring you. Do not see it as a restrictive or special diet. The principles of diabetic nutrition are good for anyone. Consider it as an opportunity to develop healthy eating habits for you and your family. If everyone in the house eats the same as you, you will not feel deprived.

Do exercise: Studies also show that moderate exercise helps the body to glucose and makes blood sugar levels at their proper level. Walking or surfing every day for 30 minutes can help you manage your gestational diabetes. However, since exercise is not recommended for all women, ask your doctor what type of exercise is right for you.
Take insulin if necessary: If it is not possible to control the level of glucose in your blood through diet and exercise, your doctor will prescribe the medication. About 15 percent of women who have diabetes during pregnancy need medication. Some doctors prescribe treatment of patients with oral medication at the injection site.