Gestational diabetes can develop during pregnancy and may affect women who do not have any history of diabetes before. At least 2% of pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes in the United States. Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use sugar. Diet, exercise, and medication, if needed, can help pregnant mothers control gestational diabetes.
Preventing a difficult delivery and keeping blood sugar in control is important for your health and the health of your baby. In women with gestational diabetes, blood sugar usually returns to normal soon after delivery. In addition, if you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
For most women, gestational diabetes doesn’t cause noticeable signs or symptoms. Increased thirst and more frequent urination are possible symptoms. You may also notice that:
- You are experiencing an unusual thirst
- You are hungrier and eat more than usual
- You pee more than usual
It is best to seek health care as soon as you think about trying to conceive so that your doctor can observe your risk of gestational diabetes and your overall well-being.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
Researchers don’t yet know why some women get gestational diabetes and others don’t. But, obesity before pregnancy often plays a role. Gestational diabetes occurs when your body can’t make enough insulin during your pregnancy. These changes cause your body’s cells to use insulin less effectively, a condition called insulin resistance.
Obesity As The Leading Cause of Gestational Diabetes
Compared with women of normal weight, women who are obese or severely obese before pregnancy are four or eight times more likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus. Obesity increases your risk of metabolic syndrome-like disorders during pregnancy. It includes hypertension, glucose intolerance, and coagulation disorders.
Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes
If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant be aware of the following risk factors of gestational diabetes.
- A lack of physical activity.
- Previous gestational diabetes or prediabetes.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome.
- A history of diabetes in an immediate family member.
- Previously delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- Race as women who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Prevention and Control of Gestational Diabetes
In terms of preventing gestational diabetes, there are no guarantees, but the more healthy habits you adopt before pregnancy, the better. To manage gestational diabetes and prevent it from occurring, you can try a healthy lifestyle, stay active, and start pregnancy at a healthy weight.
What Can You do if You Have Obesity?
Eating healthy foods while incorporating a safe weight loss regimen can improve your situation. The HCG diet can reduce your risk of obesity-related conditions including gestational diabetes. You can prevent your risk of having diabetes by creating an effective diet plan. Losing weight through the HCG diet helps lowers the causes of diabetes.
Follow the instruction of every phase to improve your metabolism. The diet plan of people with diabetes is the same as when you try to lose weight. Keep track of your eating pattern to prevent going back to your old habits. The HCG diet will help you reach your goal safe