Question: I’m pregnant. The doctor found high blood sugar level and wanted me to take insulin. But I don’t want to take it as it might affect my baby. My question is what are the do’s and don’ts or the food to eat while I have this high blood sugar level.
Answer: Gestational Diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes and usually occurs during pregnancy. It results from inability of the pancreas to produce additional insulin needed during pregnancy or excessive hormone production in the body. Sugar builds up in the blood due to lack of insulin.
Gestational Diabetes may cause problems both to the mother and child if left untreated. Extra blood sugar can pass through the placenta and enter the baby’s system. This burdens the baby’s pancreas to produce extra insulin to get rid of blood sugar. Extra blood sugar and insulin lead to a fat baby syndrome or microsomatia. Because of extra insulin the baby may have breathing problems, obesity and adults are at risk of Type-2 diabetes.
Pregnant women should be screened between twenty-four to twenty-eighth week of pregnancy for gestational diabetes. Treatment for gestational diabetes should be started quickly to prevent adverse effects on the mother and baby. Treatment includes special meal plans, daily blood sugar testing and physical activity.
Pregnancy Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors
Some factors increase the risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy. These are,
- African American, Native Americans and Hispanic races are more prone to develop the disorder.
- A family history of diabetes increases the risk of GDM.
- Obesity.
- Age over 25 years for the first delivery.
- Characteristics of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus,
- Appears in the 2nd or 3rd trimester and disappears after child birth.
- It occurs as a result of increase in demand for insulin during pregnancy.
- If the pancreas fails to produce insulin as per the requirement, glucose accumulates and is expelled through the kidneys and urine.
- Special precautions need to be taken in the diet and regular exercise can control diabetes.
For blood sugar levels that can’t be managed by diet and exercise, insulin is required. This is primarily because oral anti-diabetic drugs can pass through the placenta and breast milk, which is harmful to the baby. Insulin on the other hand cannot pass the placenta.
- Related Topics
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