The other name for Gestational diabetes is gestational diabetes mellitus. It is also known as GDM, in short. The name refers to the occurrence of diabetes while a woman is pregnant. The name does not refer to diabetes to any other type of people. The core meaning of GDM is the condition of diabetes only when the woman is expectant while she was not diagnosed with the condition before becoming pregnant. This means that GDM is associated with pregnancy and that is why it has got a separate name.
Statistics reveal that on an average about four to five percent women are diagnosed with GDM every year. The women are tested for GDM at 24 to 28 weeks pregnant stage. This is the ideal time of testing for most women. Women who fall under the high risk category need to be tested at a much earlier stage, so that they are aware of their condition.
To understand diabetes, it is important to know the following:
Generally, the stomach of a human will digest carbohydrates which will result in the formation of glucose, a type of sugar. After this, glucose present in the person’s blood is used by different parts of the body. The chief energy source of the body is glucose. But before glucose can be made available to the body cells, there is a need for insulin. It is a hormone that is secreted by the pancreas. When the amount of insulin secreted is not sufficient, the person is said to have diabetes. The result of insufficient insulin secretion results in the rise in glucose levels in the person’s blood. This is why the term high blood sugar is associated with diabetes.
If a woman’s diagnosis reports show that she has GDM condition, she will be offered good medical advice on how she has to take care of herself. She will also receive advice about nutritional requirements and changes that need to be implemented. As the abnormal rise in the sugar levels can have a great impact on the developing fetus, there are chances of risks that should be prevented from occurrence. Adequate care should also be taken so that the development of type-2 diabetes in the future is prevented. This is the same as the avoidance of GDM during the following pregnancies.
It is a fact that in numerous women GDM condition gets cured automatically after the woman delivers her baby. But still, women with GDM condition have to offer blood samples at recommended times, several times during a day so that their glucose levels can be tracked. Doctors will check the blood sample reports and recommend medications for keeping the condition under control. Such women should stay away from all types of unhealthy food items, so that their condition does not worsen even further. It is important to implement such lifestyle changes as medications alone cannot solve the problem completely. Physical exercise is also known to aid women who have GDM which can be controlled effectively, if such healthy practices are included.