Risk factors:
If you are believed to be at risk of developing pregnancy diabetes your doctor may screen you even without any symptoms. The following factors are usually warnings for medical health professionals that you should be monitored:
- You have a family history of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- You are older than 35
- You are overweight
- Have had a miscarriage
- Have given birth to babies weighting more than 9lbs
Signs and symptoms:
Pregnancy diabetes is usually detected during routine screening and in some cases is not accompanied by any symptoms.
However, some mums-to-be can experience a number of symptoms:
- Excessive eating
- Fatigue
- Needing to pee a lot
- Feeling thirsty
- Losing a lot of weight
- Glucose in your urine
How can you manage it?
Your doctor will advise you on a diet plan rich in carbohydrates and show you how to check your blood sugar levels to keep your condition in check. They might even prescribe you certain medication to help with the condition.
Your doctor will also need to monitor you and your baby closely so make sure you attend all your antenatal appointments
Why is it so dangerous?
With the help of your doctor and a good diet, managing your pregnancy diabetes is easy these days. However, if it goes untreated both you and your baby are at risk of the following:
- You can go into preterm labour
- You can develop pre-eclampsia which is dangerous for both you and your baby
- High sugar levels can cause your baby to grow too big which can cause them to develop problem before and after birth.
- Your baby’s lung might not develop properly in the womb
- Baby may suffer from hypoglycaemia – low blood sugar problems
