Diabetes In Pregnancy — Symptoms

Diabetes in pregnancy — just like type 1 and type 2 diabetes — presents in a variety of symptoms which are quite different from patient to patient. Symptoms appear in different ways over the course of weeks or months, and oftentimes the person is not even aware they are diabetic. When your doctor first confirms your pregnancy, he/she will prescribe a glucose tolerance test to determine that you are not diabetic. The test is necessary because gestational diabetes symptoms are commonly not significant. Even if your test comes back negative, it’s still possible to develop gestational diabetes later into the pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes symptoms include increased thirst, blurred vision, always feeling hungry, fatigue, increased urine output, skin infections or abrasions that will not heal, and weight loss. These symptoms are found in type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well.

In most cases with women, once the baby is born her blood glucose levels return to normal and the gestational diabetes disappears. Although, if you do develop gestational diabetes during your pregnancy you are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. This can be avoided through eating a healthy well balanced diet, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.

When you are pregnant, your insulin needs are 2 to 3 times more than the normal needs and if you are overweight this is a lot worse. If a woman’s body cannot produce enough insulin to help overcome the insulin resistance then her blood glucose levels increase above normal.

Diabetes in pregnancy must be properly diagnosed and treated, otherwise it could place the baby at risk of over-developing inside the womb, which will of course cause a difficult birth. This will also place the baby at increased risk of complications like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Therefore, it is crucial that you are tested for glucose tolerance between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, and you may wish to test again later in the pregnancy.

Monitor your body for symptoms of gestational diabetes and notify your doctor immediately for any signs in order to avoid complications later on.

Learn more about Gestational Diabetes. Stop by Sue Kennedy’s site where you can find out all about Avoiding Type 2 Diabetes and maintaining optimum health for you and your baby.