Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition which is quite separate from the other types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. The term gestational refers to it occurring during pregnancy. For many women who are diagnosed, the diabetes will go away after their baby is born.
However, there is a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes for women who have already had gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes occurs in up to 15% of all pregnancies and of these women:
- Type 2 diabetes can develop between 5-10 years after their baby is born
- More than 50% of women who had gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes
- Following the baby’s birth, a mother’s blood glucose level generally returns to normal
What exactly is Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when a person’s body is either not making enough of the hormone insulin, or their body cannot effectively use the insulin they are making. Insulin is needed so that glucose in the bloodstream can move into the body’s cells and be used for energy. When a person has diabetes, there is too much glucose in their bloodstream and complications from this can arise.
During pregnancy the placenta makes specific hormones, which are designed to support the baby’s growth and development. But these hormones can also create problems with the effectiveness of a mother’s insulin and impair its usefulness. This is what it means to become insulin-resistant.
In the best of circumstances, a mother’s insulin level and her blood sugar level will stabilise and there is not an excess or deficiency in either one. But in gestational diabetes blood glucose is not being controlled by adequate insulin, so there needs to be either a drop in dietary glucose, an increase in insulin, or a combination of both.
Who are at risk?
- Women who are over 30 years of age.
- Women from particular ethnic groups such as Asian, Philipino, Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern or Vietnamese.
- Women who already have a family history of type 2 diabetes.
- Women who are overweight or obese; both before they conceive and during their pregnancy (having a high BMI – Basal Metabolic Index – is one indicator of increased risk).
- Having had gestational diabetes with an earlier pregnancy.
When does gestational diabetes occur?
At around the 20th week of gestation, the usual processes and actions involved in insulin production become affected by pregnancy hormones. This is why gestational diabetes screening tests are done routinely for all women who are pregnant, whether they have a history or not. The most common time for it to occur is between weeks 24-28 of pregnancy, though it is still possible to be diagnosed a few weeks either side of this time frame.
As her pregnancy progresses, a mother’s need for glucose increases. This is because her energy requirements also increase. In the ideal situation there is sufficient insulin produced to cope with the rise in glucose, but this doesn’t always happen.
How is it diagnosed?
A screening test is normally ordered by an obstetrician or midwife in weeks 24-28 of pregnancy.
The most common diagnostic tools are either the glucose challenge test, GCT, or the oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT. In the first test, a sample of blood is taken to check the glucose level and an hour later the test is redone after drinking a very sweet drink.
Depending on the results of this first test, a two hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) may be done to confirm the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. This is when a blood test is taken before the glucose drink and then repeated at one and two hours later.
Another more simplistic, though common test is when glucose is detected in the mother’s urine. This is why one of the routine checks at each antenatal appointment is to check a fresh sample with a glucose sensitive detecting stick.
Blood Glucose levels are measured in millimoles per litre of blood. A normal Blood Sugar Level (BSL) is between 4–6 mmol/L in someone who has been fasting. Two hours after eating a meal, an average measurement is 4–7 mmol/L. Ideally, a person’s BSL is kept as near to normal as possible, but individual variances can play a part in what is acceptable.
How will I know if I have gestational diabetes?
You may not, and often it is not until routine urine testing or a glucose tolerance test is ordered that it is detected. Some women will develop the following symptoms, which are similar to when type 1 or type 2 diabetes develops:
- Excessive thirst. Needing to get up through the night and drinking a lot of water.
- Passing excessive amounts of urine. Although it is normal for pregnant women to need to empty their bladder more frequently, the constant urge to go the bathroom can be a warning sign.
- Developing vaginal thrush and being unable to clear it with anti-fungal medication or creams.
- Slowness in healing of cuts, scratches and sores.
- Loss of weight and general tiredness, lack of energy and feeling run down.
Is it dangerous?
When gestational diabetes is well controlled and being monitored by the woman and her healthcare providers, the risks are significantly reduced. The aim of diabetic management is to lower blood glucose levels to within a normal range and establish what dose of insulin is required for each individual mother. It can take time and a fair bit of balancing to correctly estimate the type and dose of insulin and when it needs to be administered through the day.
Mothers who have gestational diabetes are closely monitored during their labour as well. Complications can arise if labour is prolonged and the mother has inadequate fluid or glucose levels.
What can happen to my baby?
Babies of mothers with uncontrolled gestational diabetes tend to be large. They need to cope with the high levels of glucose which cross the placenta into their own blood supply. Because of this they produce more insulin, which in turn leads to them laying down additional subcutaneous fat. Babies of diabetic mothers often weigh in excess of 4kg at birth. This is why babies with a large birth weight often lead healthcare professionals to suspect gestational diabetes, even if it was not diagnosed during the pregnancy.
It is routine management for the baby of a diabetic mother to be observed for problems with low blood sugar. This tends to be more common if a mother’s blood glucose level was higher than normal before the baby was born.
Babies of diabetic mothers do not have diabetes themselves. With regular, frequent feeding their blood sugar level tends to stabilise and they have no ill effects. The greatest risk is of them having hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) in the first 4-6 hours after birth. This is why they need to have frequent testing at birth until their BSL is stable, and again at regular intervals for the first 24 hours.
What can happen to me?
It is common to keep a booklet with blood sugar levels (BSL) recorded and to bring this for doctor’s appointments. Insulin dosages are based on the BSL and it is often necessary in the early stages of treatment to adjust insulin units and dosage times so they are correct.
You may be referred to a dietician for specialist advice and guidance on your diet, what you can eat and what you need to avoid.
Commonly recommended eating guidelines include:
- Eating three meals a day as well as having a bedtime snack. You may also need to have morning and afternoon tea.
- Eating meals that are low in fat and high in fibre.
- You will need to ensure that you are having an adequate intake of calcium and iron.
- Watching your sugar intake and avoiding sweetened foods, which will elevate your blood sugar level.
- Having foods from wide and varied sources, which will prevent you from becoming bored.
Other common treatment regimes are:
- Maintenance of physical activity. This helps to control blood sugar levels and maintain weight at a healthy range.
- Insulin injections. These are a commonly prescribed treatment when diet and exercise alone are not enough to control blood glucose levels. Insulin does not pose a risk of harm to the developing baby as it does not cross the placenta and is metabolised by the mother’s body.
Where to go for more assistance
- Your local hospital, General Practitioner or Community Healthcare Centre.
- Your endocrinologist or specialist.
