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Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a carbohydrate intolerance that can become apparent around the 24th to 28th weeks of pregnancy.

Causes and Risk It's recommended that all pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes within this time frame. In many cases, the blood glucose level returns to normal after delivery. The symptoms are usually mild and not life-threatening to the pregnant woman. However, the increased maternal glucose levels are associated with an increased rate of perinatal complications, including birth trauma, hypoglycaemia, and jaundice. Rarely, late intrauterine foetal death occurs. Maintaining control of blood glucose levels significantly reduces the risk. The risk factors for gestational diabetes are: maternal age of more than 25; a family history of diabetes; obesity; a previous delivery of an infant with a birth weight over nine pounds; an unexplained death of a previous infant or newborn; a congenital malformation in a previous child; and recurrent infections.

Symptoms

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Frequent infections, including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
• Blurred vision

Signs and Tests
An oral glucose intolerance test is given between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.

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