Expectant mothers are careful to take any and all precautions to ensure optimum health for themselves, and their babies. Some medical conditions, including diabetes, can pose particular concern for both mother and child. It can, however, be successfully moderated and treated.

The American Association of Diabetes indicates that there are two types of diabetes: Type I and Type II. Children and adolescents are most commonly afflicted with Type I diabetes, while Type II is often indicated in overweight adults. Some types of diabetes are directly related to certain genetic problems.

There is one more type of diabetes that affects only pregnant women. Is it possible for an otherwise healthy woman to develop diabetes during pregnancy? Are women with diabetes required to take extra care during pregnancy? Where is the direct link between diabetes and pregnancy?

These are important questions to ask a healthcare practitioner, as a woman who suffers from diabetes has many particular considerations to take into account before becoming pregnant. A diabetic mother who is carrying a child must appreciate the risks, and needs to treat her pregnancy with a great deal of discipline.

Third Type of Diabetes

Aside from Type I and Type II diabetes, mothers who wish to have a baby must be aware that there is another possibility for acquiring diabetes. This condition, known as gestational diabetes, is developed during the late stages of pregnancy. Although this type of diabetes will disappear after the birth of the child, the mother will face a higher probability of acquiring Type II diabetes later in life.

There is a direct link between pregnancy and diabetes, so expectant mothers must be very careful about this condition. When gestational diabetes occurs, the body resists the assimilation of insulation. This condition is similar to Type II diabetes, although the symptoms are a bit different.

Women who develop gestational diabetes may notice unusually high weight gain. This excess weight is caused by high levels of glucose in the blood and, as a result, an increase in fetal urination. It’s important for expectant mothers to be tested during the 24th to 28th weeks of gestation to ensure that they have not acquired gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is quite rare, affecting only 2% to 3% of the total population of pregnant women, and there are some factors that can increase the risk of acquiring the condition:

* Age (risk increases in older women)

* Being overweight

* Family history of Type II diabetes

* Ethnic background

* Gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy

* Previous children born weighing nine pounds or more

If you show one or more of these potential risks, speak with your doctor about the possibility of acquiring gestational diabetes.

Statistics show that as many as 40% of the women who suffered from gestational diabetes went on to develop Type II diabetes over a period of 5 to 10 years following pregnancy. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully in order to avoid contracting Type II diabetes later in life. Although many people lead normal lives with Type II diabetes, it’s best to avoid it.

Gestational diabetes poses certain risks to expectant mothers, but it can be controlled. Speak with your obstetrician or healthcare provider to learn more about the causes, preventions and treatments. It’s the best way to ensure your own wellness, and the health of your baby.

Freelancer Keefe Figgatt provides material for several popular Internet magazines, on healthy living and healthy habit topics.

Gestational diabetes is a condition brought about by high blood glucose levels that remain high during pregnancy. The health of the fetus and mother as well as the development of the fetus can be adversely affected by this form of diabetes. Although it seems as if the pregnancy causes the diabetic response in some women there have been studies done which show they may have been predisposed to diabetes as they develop type 2 diabetes later on in life. A gestational diabetes diet plan is critical to properly managing the affects of this disease.

Routine screening for gestational diabetes is recommended during the second trimester for all pregnant women to help limit the negative impacts it can have on mother and baby. If it is not controlled it can lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension, premature birth, large fetus size, congenital abnormalities, future obesity and diabetes in the infant, and other birth complications.

A gestational diabetes diet requires dietary modifications that the mother may not be used to but to control this form of diabetes it is essential. This is accomplished through individually developed dietary prescriptions based on metabolic nutrition and lifestyle requirements. Basic changes include reduced intake of simple sugars such as white table sugar and syrups.

The simple sugars are replaced with more complex carbohydrates with a balanced intake of nutrients, particularly with the carbohydrates, during the day. To make starting this type of gestational diabetes diet plan easier a registered dietitian will use exchange lists to make their clients meal planning easier.

Exchange lists were first developed for diabetic meal planning but they have become a basic tool for almost all food guides and dietary recommendations.

Another system to control diabetes, carbohydrate counting, has recently begun to see more widespread use. This system allows the client to keep track of carbohydrate intake during the course of the day.

An overall gestational diabetes diet plan takes into account the physical, psychosocial, and educational requirements. For the woman with this form of diabetes reliance on her health care providers to help manage her condition is vitally important. Her registered dietician has the primary responsibility for developing and teaching her the individualized dietary plan that will work best for her. Nurses at her doctor’s office and in the hospital help reinforce these dietary needs and also are responsible for teaching her how to effectively monitor blood glucose levels and administer insulin if needed. By working together the pregnant woman and her health care team can successfully manage and overcome the risks posed by gestational diabetes.

For more information about a gestational diabetes diet please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a pregnant woman suffers from higher then normal blood glucose levels. Medical science does not know the exact cause of this form of diabetes but many think it is linked to the stress of pregnancy on the woman’s body. For the majority of women there are no noticeable symptoms of gestational diabetes and they are unaware that they have this condition until they are tested.

It is believed that the placenta and how it works during a pregnancy is the main cause for gestational diabetes. The placenta is the life support system for the baby in the uterus. During a pregnancy the placenta produces a multitude of different hormones, many of which negatively affect the effectiveness of the mother insulin. This results in high blood glucose levels because the insulin is unable to move the glucose out of the blood and into the cells. The mother may produce up to three times her normal amount of insulin to effectively deal with the effects of the placental hormones. This is known as insulin resistance.

For some women they will see some of the classic symptoms that all diabetics are familiar with. These include:

Frequent urination – Caused by high blood glucose which increases blood flow to the kidneys.

Excessive thirst – Results from dehydration from the increased urinary output.

Extreme hunger – Because glucose is unable to get into the body’s cells from the lack of insulin the body suffers from an energy deficit, causing hunger.

Unusual weight loss – Despite eating more the body actually loses weight as it breaks down proteins and fats to make up for the perceived energy deficit.

Increased fatigue – Caused by the decrease in energy.

Irritability

Blurry vision – Caused by the increased blood volume that causes a swelling of the lens of the eye.

But the majority of women suffer no overt symptoms of gestational diabetes. Because of this it is vitally important that all women be screened for gestational diabetes towards the end of the second trimester at around 24 to 28 weeks of their pregnancy.

This test is called the oral glucose tolerance test. During the test the pregnant woman will consume a drink containing 50g of glucose. After one hour her blood glucose level is tested and if it is equal to or greater then 130 to 140 mg/dl then further testing is needed.

The next test to determine if a woman has gestational diabetes is the 3 hour, 100g oral glucose tolerance test. This test actually lasts about three days. For the three days before the test the woman eats an unrestricted diet eating at a minimum of 150g of carbohydrates each day. The night before the test she fasts and in the morning drinks a 100g oral glucose solution. Her plasma glucose is tested at four different intervals with blood glucose levels not to exceed the following for two or more of the tests:

Fasting – 95mg/dL
1 hour – 180mg/dL
2 hours – 155 mg/dL
3 hours – 140 mg/dL

If the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made then the pregnant woman will have to follow a diet and exercise plan created for her individual needs by her medical care givers. For many women the first symptom of gestational diabetes is not passing the oral glucose tolerance test.

For more information about the symptoms of gestational diabetes please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.