Identifying Signs Of Gestational Diabetes
Have you heard of gestational diabetes? Maybe not. But chances are, you’ve heard of diabetes, which can be type 1 or type 2. Gestational diabetes is a similar condition. Let’s take a look at gestational diabetes and the signs of it.
What Is It, Really?
Gestational diabetes is a condition that pregnant women can have. It is related to type 1 or type 2 diabetes, in that it is also related to the blood sugar level. With gestational diabetes, however, it occurs in women who have never previously had diabetes diagnosed.
Why would a pregnant woman have problems with high blood sugar during her pregnancy? So far, there is no specific cause identified. But some experts believe that the gestational diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy interfering with a woman’s ability to adequately use insulin. Whatever the cause we should blame, studies show that from 3-10% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy.
If a pregnant woman develops gestational diabetes, a meal plan is important. Diet is a critical component to controlling and treating gestational diabetes.
Signs And Symptoms
The rule of thumb is that since most women don’t have any symptoms or signs of gestational diabetes, all pregnant women should be screened. However, there are some women who have signs of gestational diabetes – and the signs are similar to diabetes in other people.
Diabetics tend to have increased thirst. They may have an overwhelming need to be drinking water or another beverage more often than usual.
Related, people with untreated diabetes tend to need to urinate more frequently. Whether because they are drinking more (as above) or not, they tend to need to go to the bathroom much more frequently than previously.
Another sign of gestational diabetes is fatigue. But what pregnant woman isn’t tired? While this is a typical symptom of diabetes, it is less useful in a pregnant woman as a sign of gestational diabetes.
Undiagnosed diabetics can also have nausea and vomiting. But since pregnant women can also experience nausea and vomiting, particularly in the first third of the pregnancy, beware of assuming that this isn’t a sign of gestational diabetes. It certainly can be, particularly during the second half of a pregnancy.
Diabetics, particularly during pregnancy, are also prone to infections – both bladder infections and yeast infections. This painful sign of gestational diabetes can be hard to ignore – so don’t. Get checked out by your midwife or doctor, and be sure they check your blood sugar.
Finally, blurred vision can also be a sign of gestational diabetes. If your vision has deteriorated, it might just be changed due to the hormonal fluctuations. Or it might be gestational diabetes. Best have this checked by your doctor or midwife to be sure it isn’t a sign of gestational diabetes.
In this eBook, you are going to learn the 21 Diabetic Myths that many people may have heard and learn the truth about each of them.
I hope you gain some benefit from reading this short eBook. Many of the myths worry folks when they first become diagnosed as a diabetic.
