Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes Essay

gestational diabetes is a condition characterized by soaring daub mark (glucose) levels that is first recognise during motherliness. The condition occurs in approximately 4% of all pregnancies.What Causes gestational Diabetes in motherlinessAlmost all women imbibe some degree of stricken glucose intolerance as a result of hormonal changes that occur during motherliness. That room that their declination sweeten whitethorn be higher than normal, but non high enough to have diabetes. During the later part of pregnancy (the tertiary trimester), these hormonal changes place with child(predicate) woman at risk for gestational diabetes. During pregnancy, increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta (the organ that connects the featherbed by the umbilical cord to the uterus) help shift nutrients from the mother to the growth fetus. former(a) hormones argon produced by the placenta to help prevent the mother from ontogenesis first-class honours degree-pitched fall sugar.They work by resisting the actions of insulin. Over the course of the pregnancy, these hormones lead to state-of-the-art impaired glucose intolerance (higher declivity sugar levels). To try to decrease pitch sugar levels, the body makes more insulin to get glucose into cells to be used for energy. ordinarily the mothers pancreas is adequate to produce more insulin (about three propagation the normal bar) to overcome the effect of the pregnancy hormones on broth sugar levels. If, however, the pancreas good deal non produce enough insulin to overcome the effect of the increased hormones during pregnancy, blood sugar levels get out germinate, resulting in gestational diabetes.Complications of gestational DiabetesDiabetes bath affect the ontogenesis fetus throughout the pregnancy. In early pregnancy, a mothers diabetes whoremaster result in birth defects and an increased rate of miscarriage. more of the birth defects that occur affect major organs such as the b rain and heart. During the second and third trimester, a mothers diabetes raise lead to over-nutrition and excess growth of the baby. Having a large baby increases risks during grate and delivery. For example, large babies often require caes aran deliveries and if he or she is delivered vaginally, they are at increased risk for trauma to their shoulder. In addition, when fetal over-nutrition occurs and hyperinsulinemiaresults, the babys blood sugar can expend very low later onward birth, since it wont be receiving the high blood sugar from the mother. However, with proper treatment, you can deliver a wellnessy baby condescension having diabetes.Risks for Gestational DiabetesThe following factors increase the risk of growing gestational diabetes during pregnancy Being overweight prior to becoming pregnant (if you are 20% or more over your ideal body weight) Being a member of a high risk ethnic group (Hispanic, Black, inhering American, or Asian) Having sugar in your urineImpa ired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be diabetes) Family history of diabetes (if your parents or siblings have diabetes Previously better-looking birth to a baby over 9 poundsPreviously tolerant birth to a stillborn babyHaving gestational diabetes with a precedent pregnancyHaving too such(prenominal) amniotic fluid (a condition called polyhydramnios) many women who develop gestational diabetes have no known risk factors. Gestational Diabetes DiagnosedHigh risk women should be screened for gestational diabetes as early as possible during their pregnancies. All other women will be screened between the twenty-fourth and 28th week of pregnancy. To screen for gestational diabetes, you will take a political campaign called the vocal glucose tolerance test. This test involves quickly take ining a sweetened liquid, which contains 50g of sugar. The body absorbs this sugar quickly, causing blood sugar levels to rise wi thin 30-60 transactions. A blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm 1 hour after(prenominal) drinking the solution. The blood test mea reliables how the sugar solution was metabolized (processed by the body). A blood sugar level greater than or equal to 140mg/dL is recognized as abnormal. If your results are abnormal based on the oral glucose tolerance test, some other test will be given after fasting for several hours. In women at high risk of developing gestational diabetes, a normal screening test result is followed up with another screening test at 24-28 weeks for confirmation of the diagnosis.Gestational diabetes is managed by superviseing blood sugar levels four generation per twenty-four hours onward breakfast and 2 hours after meals. Monitoring blood sugar in the lead all meals whitethorn also become necessary. Monitoring urine for ketones, an acidulous that indicates your diabetes is not under control. Following specific sustenanceary guidelines as instr ucted by your repair. Youll be take ined to distribute your calories evenly throughout the day. Exercising after obtaining your wellness caveat suppliers permission.Monitoring weight puddle.Taking insulin, if necessary. Insulin is presently the only(prenominal) diabetes medication used during pregnancy.Controlling high blood pressure.Monitor Sugar LevelsTesting your blood sugar at certain snips of the day will help stipulate if your drill and ingest patterns are keeping your blood sugar levels in control, or if you need pleonastic insulin to protect your developing baby. Your health care supplier will ask you to maintain a daily food immortalize and ask you to record your home sugar levels. Testing your blood sugar involves pricking your thumb with a lancet device (a runty, sharp needle), putting a drop of blood on a test strip, using a blood sugar meter to display your results, recording the results in a record book, and then disposing the lancet and strips properl y (in a sharps container or a stern plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle). exploit your blood sugar readings with you to your medical appointments so your health care provider can evaluate how well your blood sugar levels are controlled and determine if changes need to be made to your treatment plan. Your health care provider will show you how to use a glucose meter. He or she can also tell you where to get a meter. You may be able to borrow it from your hospital, as many hospitals have loaner meter programs for women with gestational diabetes. The goal of monitoring is to keep your blood sugar as clam up to normal as possible.The ranges include Time of TestTarget Blood Sugar interlingual renditionBefore breakfastplasma beneath 105 whole blood below 952 Hours later on Mealsplasma below 130 whole blood below 120 Insulin treatment is started if above levels are not maintained.Insulin forGestational Diabetes found on your blood sugar monitoring results, your healt h care provider will tell you if you need to take insulin in the form of shots during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. If insulin is prescribed for you, you may be taught how to perform the insulin injection procedure. As your pregnancy progresses, the placenta will make more pregnancy hormones and bigger doses of insulin may be needed to control your blood sugar. Your health care provider will adjust your insulin dosage based on your blood sugar logarithm. When using insulin, a low blood glucose reaction, or hypoglycaemia can occur if you do not eat enough food, jump-start a meal, do not eat at the right time of day, or if you transaction more than usual.Symptoms of hypoglycemia includeConfusion, Dizziness, Feeling shaky, Headaches, fast hunger, Sweating, WeaknessHypoglycemia is a serious problem that needs to be treated right away. If you think you are having a low blood sugar reaction, check your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is less than 60 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), eat a sugar-containing food, such as 1/2 cup of orange or apple juice 1 cup of skim milk 4-6 pieces of baffling candy (not sugar-free) 1/2 cup regular soft drink or 1 tablespoonful of honey, brown sugar, or corn syrup. Fifteen minutes after eating one of the foods listed above, check your blood sugar. If it is still less than 60 mg/dL, eat another one of the food choices above. If it is more than 45 minutes until your next meal, eat a bread and protein source to prevent another reaction. Record all low blood sugar reactions in your log book, including the date, time of day the reaction occurred and how you treated it.Diet Change with Gestational DiabetesIf you have gestational diabetes, follow these eating tipsEat three small meals and two or three snacks at regular times each day. Do not skip meals or snacks. Carbohydrates should be 40%-45% of the innate calories with breakfast and a bedtime snack containing 15-30 grams of carbohydrates. If you hav e morning sickness, eat 1-2 servings of crackers, cereal, or pretzels beforehand getting out of bed. Eat small, frequent mealsthroughout the day and avoid fatty, fried, and greasy foods. If you take insulin and have morning sickness, make sure you know how to treat low blood sugar. Choose foods high in theatrical role such as whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables. All pregnant women should eat 20-35 grams of fiber a day. Fats should be less than 40% of calories with less than 10% consumed world from saturated fats. Drink at least 8 cups (or 64 ounces) of liquids per day. befuddle sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. shoot your health care provider about taking a antepartum vitamin and mineral supplement to roleplay the nutritional needs of your pregnancy. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some jet discomforts such as backaches and fatigue. Being fit during pregnancy means safe, b atty to moderate exercise at least three times a week. But, regardless of gestational diabetes, every pregnant woman should consult with her health care provider before beginning an exercise program.He or she can give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history. Since both insulin and exercise lower blood sugar, you should follow these additional exercise guidelines to avoid a low blood glucose reaction Always arrest some form of sugar with you when exercising, such as glucose tablets or hard candy. Eat one serving of fruit or the equivalent of 15 grams of carbohydrate for most activities lasting 30 minutes. If you exercise right after a meal, eat this snack after exercise. If you exercise 2 hours or more after a meal, eat the snack before exercise.Pregnancy Weight GainThe recommended amount of weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, whether there is more than one fetus, and the trimester. Typically more weight gain is expected during the second and third trimester and recommended intakes of calories should increase at that time. Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs and is growing at a healthy rate. It is not necessary to eat for two during pregnancy. Its true that you need duplicate calories from nutrient-rich foods to help your baby grow, but you generallyneed to consume only 200 to 300 more calories per day than you did before you became pregnant to meet the needs of your growing baby. Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. A woman of average weight before pregnancy can expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. You may need to gain more or less weight, depending on what your doctor recommends. In general, you should gain about 2-4 pounds during your first 3 months of pregnancy and 1 pound a week for the remainder of your pregnancy.Where th e weight goesBaby8 poundsPlacenta2-3 poundsAmniotic fluid2-3 pounds dresser tissue2-3 poundsBlood supply4 poundsFat stores for delivery and breastfeeding5-9 poundsUterus increase2-5 poundsTotal25 to 35 poundsBaby After DeliveryYour babys blood sugar level will be tested immediately after birth. If the blood sugar is low, he or she will be given sugar water to drink or by an intravenous tube in the vein. Your baby may be sent to a special care nursery for honoring during the first few hours after birth to make sure he or she doesnt have a low blood glucose reaction. If you had gestational diabetes, there is an increased risk that your newborn will develop jaundice. gall is a yellow discoloration of the skin that occurs when bilirubin is present in the babys blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that causes jaundice and is released when limited red blood cells build up in the blood and cant be processed fast enough. Jaundice goes away rapidly with treatment that often involves exposing you r baby to special lights to get rid of the pigment. Gestational diabetes does increase the risk that your child will have diabetes in the future. ordinarily with gestational diabetes, blood sugar levels return to normal about 6 weeks after childbirth because the placenta, which was producing the extra hormones that caused insulinresistance, is gone. Your doctor will check your blood sugar levels after your baby is born to make sure your blood sugar level has returned to normal. Some doctors recommend an oral glucose tolerance test 6-8 weeks after delivery to check for diabetes. You should also be screened for diabetes in the future. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 60% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later-in-life.By maintaining an ideal body weight, following a healthy diet, and exercising, you will be able to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, women who have gestational diabetes during one pregnancy have a 40%-50% chance of deve loping diabetes in the next pregnancy. If you had gestational diabetes during one pregnancy and are planning to get pregnant again, talk to your health care provider first so you can make the necessary lifestyle changes before your next pregnancy. Get tips on eating right with Diabetes by consulting with a dietician or your immemorial care physician.SourcesAmerican Diabetes Association Gestational Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2008 Agency for health care Research and Quality Gestational Diabetes A Guide for Pregnant Women. disdainful 2009 American College of Nurse Midwives Gestational Diabetes. JMWH org. 135 2006