The statistics of pregnant women in India, suffering from gestational diabetes were recorded at 0.80% in 2021. Further research shows a steady increase in this percentage. Understanding gestational diabetes and controlling the condition is important for the health of the mother and baby.
Gestational Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a form of hyperglycemia that develops during pregnancy. It is a condition where your body is unable to produce enough insulin during pregnancy, thereby leading to an increase in sugar levels in the blood.
The sugar present in our blood provides our body cells with energy. The hormone, insulin, produced by the pancreas, allows the sugar in your blood to enter your body cells and be stored as energy.
However, during pregnancy, your body cells become more resistant to insulin. This resistance causes an unchecked increase in blood sugar. Consequently, these high levels of blood sugar can impact maternal health and affect fetal development.
Therefore, it is important to control GDM.
As soon you visit your gynecologist to confirm your pregnancy, your doctor will assess your risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. You may be at risk of GDM if you have a history of gestational diabetes in your previous pregnancy, suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome, are obese, or have a family history of diabetes.
Even if you are not at a risk of GDM your gynecologist will repeat your glucose test in the 24th-28th week of your pregnancy.
Although gestational diabetes cannot be prevented, it can be controlled during your pregnancy. Controlling GDM is crucial because unchecked gestational diabetes can result in health complications for the mother and baby. Therefore, it is important to visit a good mother and child care hospital to experience a smooth pregnancy journey.
For mothers, uncontrolled GDM can lead to high blood pressure during and after pregnancy. Also, unchecked gestational diabetes increases the chances of miscarriages, premature delivery, or stillbirth.
For babies, GDM can lead to very low or very high birth weight. High birth weight or large baby sizes can cause complications for the mother and baby during delivery. Also, gestational diabetes mellitus can cause respiratory distress syndrome and jaundice in babies.
If you are diagnosed with GDM, your gynaecologist for high risk pregnancy will encourage you to control your diabetes and will also keep a close watch on the rest of your pregnancy journey.
Your blood sugar levels are likely to normalize after your delivery. However, you are at risk of developing Type2 diabetes at a later stage.
First, your fetal medicine specialist will advise a diet plan to control your diabetes. Since you are already following a healthy diet for your pregnancy, it should not be difficult to adopt a few more changes to control your gestational diabetes.
You can visit a gynaecologist for high risk pregnancy at the top mother and child care hospital for the best GDM treatment plan.
To control your gestational diabetes, you must avoid sweets, desserts, and sweetened beverages during your pregnancy. Your doctor may also advise you to increase your protein intake and limit foods with saturated fat. Also, eat moderate portions of carbohydrates, limit fruit servings, and increase your intake of vegetables low in natural sugar and carbohydrates.
Follow the advice of your fetal medicine specialist to ensure controlled GDM levels.
Physical activity and exercise can help to maintain your blood sugar levels. Seek advice from your gynecologist for high risk pregnancies for effective exercises during your pregnancy.
Remember to follow up on your doctor’s appointments. Skipping your doctor visits can put your and your baby’s health at risk. Also, remember to follow your doctor’s medical advice and take your prescribed medication on time. Your doctor may also recommend frequent glucose tests to monitor your blood sugar.
Kinder Women’s Hospital and Fertility Centre is one of the best mother and child care hospitals in Bangalore. We have on board the most experienced and highly qualified fetal medicine specialists and gyneacologists for high risk pregnancies.
Our team of the best doctors for pregnancies are equipped to handle complex and high risk pregnancy cases.
At Kinder Women’s Hospital and Fertility Centre, we offer reliable health care along with emotional support and superior infrastructure.
We believe in open communications with our patients making us one of the most preferred pregnancy hospitals in Bangalore.
Visit Kinder Women’s Hospital and Fertility Centre for the best pregnancy care and birthing experience in Bangalore.
