Pregnancy is an amazing event that completely changes the life of every woman. Adapting to the beat of a small heart, the mother’s body is trying to do everything so that the baby is comfortable for all nine months. Unfortunately, for the long forty weeks, the expectant mother has to experience not only the joy of an early meeting with the baby, but also a lot of unpleasant sensations that accompany pregnancy. Some of the inevitable pregnancy companions do not pose any danger to the fetus, others require constant medical supervision. One of the serious complications during the expectation of a child is gestational diabetes - a condition in which the level of glucose in the peripheral blood increases.
What does high blood sugar during pregnancy mean?
At the very first appearance in the antenatal clinic, the expectant mother receives referrals from the doctor for tests to assess the general condition of the pregnant woman. One of the most significant indicators in this huge list is the determination of blood glucose. If it is found that sugar is elevated during pregnancy, the woman will be asked to undergo an additional examination, as well as a course of treatment, if necessary.
An increase in blood glucose concentration is not at all as harmless as it might seem at first glance. Changing the sugar level triggers a whole range of pathological mechanisms leading to a significant deterioration in the condition of a pregnant woman. The processes taking place in the body of the expectant mother will inevitably affect the development of the fetus, increasing the risk of having a baby with signs of diabetic fetopathy.
How to find out that sugar is elevated during pregnancy?
A woman submits a blood test to detect glucose levels twice: at the first appearance in a antenatal clinic and for a period of 22-24 weeks. At the same time, the expectant mother should not limit herself in food or somehow change the usual diet three days before the planned examination. Blood is usually drawn from a vein in the morning on an empty stomach. Exceeding the permissible values in most cases indicates the development of gestational diabetes.
Why is glucose rising?
Under normal conditions, the sugar content is regulated by the hormone insulin, which is continuously produced by the pancreas. Under its influence, glucose, which came with food, gradually passes into the cells of the body, performing its function there. Blood sugar levels are reduced. What happens during pregnancy and why does this established mechanism fail?
Hormones that allow the child to endure are insulin antagonists. Increased blood sugar during pregnancy is due to the fact that the pancreas simply can not cope with its work in such conditions. Pregnancy hormones activate the release of glucose into the blood, and there is not enough insulin capable of binding excess sugar. As a result, the so-called pregnant diabetes develops, which is dangerous for its unpredictable consequences.
Risk factors
It would seem that in this situation, any woman in an interesting position should suffer from an excess of glucose in the body. However, not every expectant mother has increased sugar during pregnancy. What increases the risk of developing the disease?
• obesity;
• heredity (diabetes in close relatives);
• development of a similar situation in a previous pregnancy;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• age over 25 years.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
In many cases, a pregnant woman does not even suspect that she has an increased level of glucose in the blood. Her well-being does not change in any way, the baby actively stirs and makes itself felt with very active shocks. The danger of gestational diabetes is that the amount of sugar in the blood will gradually increase, leading to serious complications.
With an increase in gestational age, glucose levels will increase, and insulin levels will inevitably decrease. The manifestation of diabetes is characterized by the following symptoms:
• constant feeling of thirst;
• increased appetite;
• increased urination;
• visual impairment.
For an accurate diagnosis, just complaints about a deterioration in well-being will not be enough. Feeling of hunger and frequent urination are characteristic of many pregnant women with completely normal blood sugar levels. Expectant mother will have to undergo a special examination to confirm or refute gestational diabetes.
Diagnostics
In order to find out whether sugar is really raised during pregnancy, a woman is invited to donate blood to determine the level of glucose. The analysis is given on an empty stomach.
Interpretation of the results:
• from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol / l - the norm;
• from 5.5 to 7 mmol / l - impaired glucose tolerance;
• more than 7.1 momol / l - diabetes.
With a glucose level of more than 7.1 mmol / L, the expectant mother is sent for a consultation with the endocrinologist to confirm the diagnosis and develop treatment tactics.
Increased sugar in the urine during pregnancy also indicates the development of gestational diabetes. Most often, glucose is detected in the later stages, when the disease has gone quite far. Sugar in the urine suggests that the kidneys can no longer cope with their function, which means that the risk of complications from all organs and systems of the female body increases.
What is dangerous gestational diabetes?
Many pregnant women do not seek the help of specialists, hoping that after birth the glucose level will decrease by itself. They do not know what is really dangerous increased sugar during pregnancy. The consequences of gestational diabetes can be very sad. Women with high blood sugar have an increased risk of gestosis (a condition characterized by edema and high blood pressure in late pregnancy). In addition, there is an increased likelihood of complications from the kidneys and urinary system. Do not forget that the birth of women with diabetes often occurs ahead of schedule.
How does diabetes affect the fetus?
An increased level of sugar in the mother’s blood also affects the baby’s condition. The complex of symptoms that develop during such a pregnancy is called diabetic fetopathy. With this pathology, the baby is born very large, more than 4.5 kg. But a lot of weight does not mean that the baby will be healthy. In contrast, diabetic fetopathy is characterized by a lag in physical development. Due to the lack of surfactant (a substance that helps the lungs to open at birth), a newborn has various respiratory disorders. Very often, pathological jaundice develops, as well as a variety of neurological disorders.
Treatment for gestational diabetes
Most expectant mothers are frightened when they find that they have high sugar during pregnancy. What to do if such a nuisance happened? First of all, a woman should seek the advice of a specialist. An endocrinologist will evaluate the condition of the future mother and, depending on the severity of the disease, will prescribe the necessary treatment.
In most cases, the management of pregnant women with diabetes is reduced to a change in diet. Normalizing the level of insulin in the blood allows you to do without heavy artillery in the form of hormonal drugs. The diet for high sugar during pregnancy includes the following principles:
• The daily diet is divided between proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the ratio of 20-25%, 35-40% and 35%, respectively.
• During the entire period of pregnancy, there is a gradual decrease in caloric content of food to 25-30 kcal per 1 kg of weight.
• Any easily digestible carbohydrates (especially sweets) are excluded from daily consumption.
In the case when, with the help of one diet alone, it is not possible to normalize the level of sugar, a pregnant woman is prescribed insulin therapy. The selection of the dose is carried out by the endocrinologist. He also monitors the expectant mother throughout the gestation period and, if necessary, changes the dose of the prescribed drug.
Diabetes Emergency
During pregnancy, all women with diabetes are advised to purchase a personal blood glucose meter. This drug allows you to monitor the level of sugar in the peripheral blood at any time and take the necessary measures when it changes. Gestational diabetes is dangerous not only by an increase in glucose concentration, but also by a sharp decrease in it. This condition threatens with sudden weakness, loss of consciousness, and even coma.
How to increase blood sugar during pregnancy to guarantee the avoidance of the unpleasant effects of diabetes? A woman should remember that in her condition, dizziness and weakness are dangerous symptoms that require immediate help. When the first signs of a drop in glucose appear, the expectant mother is recommended to urgently eat something sweet. It can be a candy, stored in a purse for such an occasion, or a piece of chocolate. In order to avoid such a situation, a pregnant woman should eat well, not forgetting to include not only tasty, but also healthy products in her diet.
Gestational diabetes mellitus in most cases passes independently after the birth of the baby. You should not relax - in women who have undergone this pathology during pregnancy, the risk of developing true diabetes is significantly increased. To prevent this serious disease, it is recommended to review your diet, increase physical activity and regularly monitor blood glucose levels. Compliance with these rules will help a woman to notice any deviations in her state of health in time and take the necessary measures to eliminate unpleasant symptoms.