Towards the end of your pregnancy your blood sugar levels may begin to rise. Often called gestational diabetes, it is more accurately hyperglycemia and glucose is found in both your blood and urine.
This condition occurs because the hormonesA complex chemical substance created in a part or organ of the body. When released it initiates or regulates activity in an organ or group of cells in another part of the body.
Hormones secreted by endocrine glands are transported through the bloodstream to their target organ. The amount of hormone secreted is regulated either by other hormones, by neurotransmitters, or simply when an excess of the organ's activity indicates a need to reduce the amount of the hormone produced.
Other hormones are produced locally by the organs themselves and are common in the digestive tract.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. produced by the placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. that control your pregnancy negate the effects of insulinA hormone secreted by the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas in response to increase blood sugar levels. Insulin regulates the metabolism of glucose, and helps transfer the blood sugar into the muscle cells and other body tissues.
Insufficient insulin secretion results in hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, ketonemia and azoturia. It is the cause of diabetes mellitus, eventually resulting in lethargy and weight loss.
A synthetic version of the hormone, also known as insulin is used in treating diabetes, with the different brands varying in promptness, intensity and duration of action. Pharmacological insulin is delivered through subcutaneous injection.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions.. To convert the glucose into energy, the pancreas needs to produce three times more insulin than normal and if enough cannot be produced, blood sugar levels will rise.
Symptoms typical of diabetes are thirst, weakness and fatigue, frequent urination, and weight loss. But pregnancy may mask these symptoms, which is why the condition is usually diagnosed through routine urinalysis.
Screening for gestational diabetes routinely occurs between week twenty four and week twenty eight, but if your doctor is concerned that you may be at risk, you may be screened sooner. Two tests are used to measure your blood sugar levels. The first is the glucose screening test, which if positive is followed by the glucose tolerance test.
Between three and twelve percent (1 - 4 in 30) women will develop hyperglycemiaA higher than normal concentration of sugar in the bloodstream. Although most commonly associated with diabetes mellitus, the condition also occurs in newborns as a result of the administration of glucocorticoid hormones and with an excess infusion of intravenous glucose solutions.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. during pregnancy. There is a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes if your family has a history of diabetes mellitus.
But even if you have none of these predisposing factors, you still may develop the condition. Because it is so hard to tell who is at risk, all women are now routinely screened for high blood glucose levels during pregnancy.
Women who have high blood glucose levels in pregnancy have a higher incidence of bladder infection, preeclampsia, and macrosomia, or babies weighing nine pounds or more at delivery. Babies who are macrosomic may need to be delivered by cesarean section. There is little or no risk of congenital abnormalitiesAny abnormality which is present at birth. Also called birth defects, they can arise from genetic inheritance or acquired during gestation through disease or drugs.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions..
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If the condition is left uncontrolled, a condition called ketoacidosis may result. This increase in the body's acidity can create an environment which is hostile to the baby, impairing fetal growth and in extreme cases ending in fetal death. But of course it would never reach this stage. Your doctor will be monitoring your blood sugar levels, and if they cannot be managed, you will be admitted to the hospital and treated with insulin intravenously.
If your blood sugar needs to be controlled your doctor will prescribe a regimented program of diet and exercise. The diet is usually limited to 2,200 - 2,400 calories daily and will consist of forty five percent carbohydrates, twenty five percent protein, and thirty percent fat. Your obstetrician, and maybe a perinatologist or endocrinologist will monitor your pregnancy to make sure the blood glucose levels return to normal. Risk of additional complications is no higher than that of a normal pregnancy.
In about ten percent of cases, insulin may be required. This can be difficult to master for women who are not used to routinely measuring their blood sugar levels, and you will probably need support from a diabetic 'buddy' or counseling group.
In most cases the condition will disappear after pregnancy, though it does recur in two thirds of subsequent pregnancies. There is an increased risk of developing Type II diabetes after experiencing hyperglycemia in pregnancy, especially if you are twenty or more percent above your ideal body weight for age and height. A change in diet and exercise habits after pregnancy is recommended to reduce the risk of developing diabetes mellitus.
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