gestational diabetes
Also known as GDM, Gestational diabetes mellitus, Maternal gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes complicating pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium, Diabetes mellitus in the pueperium - baby delivered during previous episode of care (disorder), Diabetes mellitus, postpartum, Diabetes in Pregnancy, Diabetes, Gestational
Key facts
- Other names
- Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
- Specialty
- Obstetrics and endocrinology
- Symptoms
- Typically few symptoms
- Complications
- Pre-eclampsia , stillbirth , depression, increased risk of requiring a caesarean section
- Usual onset
- Most common last three months of pregnancy
- Causes
- Not enough insulin in the setting of insulin resistance
- Risk factors
- Overweight , previously having gestational diabetes, family history of type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Diagnostic method
- Screening blood tests
- Prevention
- Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising before pregnancy
- Treatment
- Diabetic diet , exercise, insulin injections
- Frequency
- ~6% of pregnancies
via Wikipedia infobox
~40 min read
Article
Gestational diabetes is a condition in which an individual without diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes generally results in few symptoms. Obesity increases the rate of pre-eclampsia, cesarean sections, and embryo macrosomia, as well as gestational diabetes. Babies born to individuals with poorly treated gestational diabetes are at increased risk of macrosomia, of having hypoglycemia after birth, and of jaundice. If untreated, diabetes can also result in stillbirth. Long term, children are at higher risk of being overweight and of developing type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy because of insulin resistance or reduced production of insulin. Risk factors include being overweight, previously having gestational diabetes, a family history of type 2 diabetes, and having polycystic ovarian syndrome. Diagnosis is by blood tests. For those at normal risk, screening is recommended between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation. For those at high risk, testing may occur at the first prenatal visit.