Gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Diagnosis, manifestations, treatment and diet

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

All nine months from the moment of conception of a baby are a rather stressful period in the life of absolutely every woman. With the advent of the fetus in the womb, the mother's body needs more strength and energy. Very often it is during this period that the course of all metabolic processes in the body changes. Moreover, gestational insulin dependence often appears.

Adipose tissue, liver, muscles become less receptive to the hormone insulin. When adverse conditions occur, blood sugar rises, which very often leads to the appearance of diabetes. This disease, as a rule, is detected during the next examination in the antenatal clinic. For up to 24 weeks, only venous blood is taken for analysis, and in the third trimester a special test is performed - a sugar curve.

General information

Gestational diabetes during pregnancy is a rather serious disease that requires a competent approach to treatment. The basis of this disease is the wrong metabolism of carbohydrates, or rather, a decrease in glucose tolerance.

In the US, studies have been repeatedly conducted on this issue. According to available information, gestational diabetes in women in position is diagnosed in 4% of cases. European scientists announced other information. It is known that the prevalence of this disease varies in the range from 1 to approximately 14% of the total number of pregnancies. About 10% of women after childbirth remain with symptoms of this disease, which subsequently transforms into type 2 diabetes.

Such relatively high rates of the prevalence of pathology around the world testify, first of all, to the lack of awareness of women about the possible consequences of this disease. As a result, only a few turn to doctors for qualified help.

What is the risk of diabetes during pregnancy?

Firstly, this is a negative effect on the fetus inside the mother's womb. In the early stages, diabetes can provoke a spontaneous miscarriage or lead to various kinds of malformations in the development of the baby's brain structures and heart. If the disease was diagnosed at a later date (2-3 trimesters), the likelihood of excessive fetal growth is very high, which leads to diabetic fetopathy. The main signs of this pathology are overweight (more than 4 kg), respiratory distress, body imbalances, hypoglycemia.

How is the pregnancy going?

In this case, it is impossible to accurately answer this question, since each caseindividual. A woman, as a rule, is hospitalized three times. For the first time at an early stage, she undergoes a full examination, according to the results of which the doctor decides on the preservation and management of the pregnancy, and also prescribes preventive treatment. The second time hospitalization is carried out for a period of 20 weeks, since it is at this time that the first complications may appear. At 32 weeks, the doctor chooses the method and timing of future births.

Who is most susceptible to this disease?

Gestational diabetes during pregnancy, as a rule, develops in the presence of a genetic predisposition, which is realized under the influence of several factors at once, such as:

• overweight;

• high urine sugar levels;

• various kinds of carbohydrate metabolism disorders;

• age (over 30);

• previous toxicosis and preeclampsia;

• various kinds of disorders in the work of the cardiovascular system;

• chronic miscarriage.

Main reasons

Gestational diabetes mellitus in women develops due to a decrease in the habitual sensitivity of body cells to their own insulin. This is due to an increase in the level of hormones in the blood, which is very often observed during pregnancy. In addition, in women, glucose levels are rapidly decreasing, since both the fetus and the placenta now need it. The consequence of all the above factors is considered to be a compensatory increase in insulin production.directly to the pancreas. So, that is why often in the blood of women in position, these indicators are slightly increased. If the pancreas on its own does not cope with its direct duties, namely with the production of the required amount of insulin, gestational diabetes mellitus develops.

Symptoms

The increase in sugar levels in this disease is usually insignificant. That is why pronounced signs in pregnant women occur very rarely. In some cases, there is thirst and frequent urination, as well as dry skin. However, all these symptoms are perceived by women as specific features of their position.

How is the disease confirmed?

Diagnosis of gestational diabetes involves a blood glucose test and a special glucose tolerance test (GTT).

In medicine, two types of GTT are distinguished depending on the method of glucose administration: intravenous and oral. In the second version of the test, the patient is asked to drink a sweetened liquid that contains exactly 50 g of sugar. After 20 minutes, venous blood is taken from her for analysis (the content of glucose in it is determined). If the sugar level exceeds 140 mg/dl, an intravenous glucose tolerance test will also be required.

When conducting this study, it is very important to comply with certain conditions. First of all, it is recommended to patients within five days before the expected date of the testadhere to normal physical activity and nutrition, however, the carbohydrate content in the diet should exceed 150 g. It is important to remember that blood sampling is carried out only in the morning and on an empty stomach. The patient is advised to fast for 14 hours before the test. It is best to remain calm during the examination itself.

What should be the treatment?

Gestational diabetes during pregnancy is very often complicated by the fact that a woman has to measure her glucose level about four times a day. It is important to note that drug therapy in this case is categorically contraindicated, as it can adversely affect the development of the baby in the womb.

As for the issue of treatment, in this case, experts recommend sticking to a special diet, regularly checking sugar levels. If all of the above tips do not give the desired results, insulin therapy is prescribed.

How is the diet different for this disease?

Gestational diabetes during pregnancy involves following a certain diet. As noted above, it is proper nutrition that most often becomes the key to successful treatment of the disease. Experts recommend in no case to reduce the nutritional value of food, it is better to slightly reduce its calorie content. Here are some effective dietary tips for this diagnosis.

• Eat in small portions and always at a certain time.

• It is recommended to completely exclude fromdaily diet of all fried and fatty foods, as well as easily digestible carbohydrates (for example, cakes, sweets) and fast food.

• What can you eat with diabetes? It is better to enrich the diet with various kinds of cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, pasta (only from whole grains). All of these foods are high in fiber, which is great for pregnancy.

• In the diet, you can use lean meats and fish, it is better to limit the consumption of smoked meats, sausages and sausages.

• Food should be steamed or baked in the oven using minimal oil.

• It is not recommended to forget about the correct drinking regimen (at least two liters of non-carbonated clean water per day).

Physical activity

Daily exercise is very beneficial for pregnant women, as it maintains muscle tone, improves well-being and insulin action, and prevents excess body fat. Of course, the load in this case should be moderate. Women are encouraged to attend yoga classes, take small walks every day, swim in the pool. Active physical exercises (horse riding, skating and skiing) should not be abused, as they can lead to injuries. It is important to regulate the number of loads each time, based on the well-being of the pregnant woman herself.

Postpartum care

Immediately after delivery, gestational diabetes in women usually resolves, butin some cases, it can lead to complications. As noted above, the baby is born very large, so you often have to resort to the help of a caesarean section. The thing is that during natural childbirth, there is a chance of getting birth injuries.

The baby is born with a low sugar level, but no special measures are taken to normalize it. Glucose levels return to normal on their own if the mother breastfeeds the baby. This indicator should be constantly monitored by specialists from the maternity hospital.

If a woman strictly follows all the prescriptions from the doctor during pregnancy, then her baby will not be threatened with gestational diabetes, the birth will go smoothly.

If a woman neglects complex therapy during pregnancy, then this violation can lead to the fact that the newborn will develop diabetic fetopathy. It is characterized by the following features:

• jaundice;

• increased blood clotting;

• tissue swelling;

• violation of the natural proportions of the body (for example, excessively thin limbs);

• various respiratory disorders.

To finally overcome such an ailment as gestational diabetes, the diet must continue after childbirth. Sticking to a strict diet is recommended until blood sugar finally returns to normal.

Experts advise all women with this diagnosisdo a test annually. It is estimated that one in five women who have had the condition actually have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Preventive measures

According to experts, it is actually very difficult to prevent the development of this disease. Often women at risk do not have diabetes at all.

It is important to note that pregnancy planning after this diagnosis should take place under the supervision of a doctor and not earlier than 2 years after the previous birth. A few months before this period, it is recommended to start monitoring your own weight, introduce physical exercises into your daily routine, and ask your doctor what to eat with diabetes.

The intake of absolutely any medication must always be agreed with a specialist. The thing is that the uncontrolled use of medications, including birth control pills, can result in the development of such an ailment as gestational diabetes.

Reviews of specialists and women who have already given birth suggest that in the case of a competent approach on the part of the doctor, the probability of a positive outcome is very high. It is important to continue to monitor your body after the baby is born. For example, after 1.5 months it is necessary to do a test to determine the level of glucose. Based on its results, the specialist will give his recommendations on future nutrition and lifestyle in general, as well as set the date for the next controltest.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted once again that this diagnosis, subject to all recommendations from the attending physician, practically does not pose a threat to the he alth of the baby. In this case, it is very important to positively tune your thoughts, pass all examinations in a timely manner, and eat right. You can find interesting recipes for diabetes, they will be useful not only to the woman in labor, but also to her partner. Experts recommend more rest, exercise, and in the evenings to walk with your loved one. If a woman sets herself up for a successful pregnancy, the result is a completely he althy baby.