Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant woman so that is why having an insulin pump is important, so you don’t get major lows while being pregnant because that can be dangerous for both the mom and the baby. Gestational diabetes can be found by doing tests, which sometimes the results can be false the first time so the doctors can make you come back to take another test. Diabetes can last for months or years, even after you have had the baby. Gestational diabetes can be treated with a healthy diet and exercise along with pricking your finger at least four times a day. Out of 100 pregnant women, 3 to 5 have the disease. One way you may more than likely to get the disease is if you have a parent or sibling that has type 2 diabetes. With your body releasing hormones to help your baby grow, your body can have a hard time making or using insulin. Pregnant women can be affected by gestational diabetes when they have more than one pregnancy. They can get the disease in the third trimester which is 24 to 28 weeks. The baby can grow larger than normal in the mom’s stomach which can affect the mom by gaining weight. More than 200,000 women are affected every year in the United States. If gestational diabetes does not go away after pregnancy, then it can become type 2 diabetes and the mom can more than likely have it for the rest of her life. But getting tested 1 to 3 years after giving birth can help decrease the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. There are many steps that you can take while pregnant with gestational diabetes that can help keep you and the baby healthy and safe.