Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Overview

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus refers to a condition of glucose intolerance that affects women during pregnancy. Its duration usually only lasts over the pregnancy period.

About 5% of women during pregnancies are affected by Gestational Diabetes. It is of extreme importance to the developing fetus for this condition to be controlled by the birth mother. Failure to do so puts the child at high risk of not developing properly. High blood sugar can also put the mother at risk for health complications.

Gestational Diabetes usually develops in the mother between the 5th and 6th month of pregnancy. This form of diabetes is usually controlled by diet, exercise, routine blood sugar checks and medicine.

Gestational Diabetes Diet

It really comes down to the basics of diabetes management when it comes to dieting and Gestational Diabetes. Avoiding foods high in sugar or carbohydrates is a key to controlling blood glucose levels. Reading nutrition labels and understanding what sugars, carbohydrates and fat will do to your condition is vital.

Your doctor will be able to give you education on how to structure your diet. Further a dietitian can help you to balance out the right diet plan for you and your growing baby.

Advance your knowledge of Dieting with Diabetes with our Diabetic Diet database.

Symptoms and Signs of Gestational Diabetes

The same symptoms of type 1 and 2 diabetes are also observed in pregnant women who suffer from GDM.

These include:

Gestational Diabetes Test

Doctors will recommend a Glucose Screening Test or Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) to determine if glucose intolerance is a factor for you. This test will not in itself determine your health condition with diabetes. It is only meant to see if further testing is needed. If you are not negative for this test a glucose tolerance test is then used. This test examines how your body processes sugar. The GTT will identify if you do have gestational diabetes.

Causes of Gestational Diabetes

It is thought that hormones play a role in causing the interruption of insulin. The exact hormone or reason is not known.

Controlling the Risk of Gestational Diabetes

By taking advantage of the recommendations of your doctor you will successfully be able to avoid or minimize the risk of this form of diabetes. In some cases that are more extreme insulin or insulin pumps have been used by pregnant women during this period.

Usually those with this form of diabetes return to their normal lifestyle free of glucose intolerance after the pregnancy occurs.

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This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.