New Delhi: One of the most common health problems related to pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes, takes its toll on 10 percent of expectant mothers, it has been revealed.
According to Dr. Archana Dhawan Bajaj, gynaecologist and obstetrician at Nurture IVF Centre, it has also been seen that pregnant women in the age group of 30 to 39 years had greater prevalence of GDM as compared with those in the age group of 20 to 29 years.
India is one of the diabetes capitals of the world and has among the most astounding rates of women enduring with Diabetes with more than 5 million women influenced in the nation every year.
Diabetes as of now influences more than 246 million individuals worldwide and half of these are women.
Dr. Bajaj said, "The screening test for Gestational Diabetes is recommended at first prenatal visit and then repeat test at 24 to 28 weeks if the initial result is negative. Gestational diabetes doesn't usually cause any symptoms. Sometimes one may have symptoms of high blood sugar, including increased thirst, needing to urinate often and feeling tired."
Once diagnosed as type 1 diabetes or even type 2 diabetes, doctor advises to take insulin shots, then you need to follow an effective treatment.
Diabetic screening is a must for women, if their body mass index is over 30; if they had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy; if sugar is found in urine; and if they had family history of diabetes.
Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, gynaecologist and infertility expert at Fortis La Femme, added, "Gestational diabetes causes miscarriage, large/fat babies and many more problems like polyhydramnios, which causes an overly distended belly and may rarely cause harmful consequences, toxemia that increases blood pressure with the presence of protein in the urine, and swelling of hands/feet. Any of these problems should be immediately medically treated for the foetus's wellbeing."
Diabetic pregnancy has high risks that include miscarriages and large babies. High maternal blood glucose level may increase the chances to have large babies, which makes the delivery more difficult that leads to caesarean.
Gestational Diabetes can be treated with regular exercise that helps keep the blood sugar level normal. One can keep high cholesterol and High BP in control with medication to avoid other complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
One needs to follow healthy food habits and never skip meals. Have your medicine or insulin at the same time every day without skipping or delaying.Closely monitor the glucose level of blood using home glucose monitor. Through maintaining the blood glucose near normal, one can avoid many diabetic complications.
Proper intake of food, exercise, lifestyle change, regular monitoring of glucose level, medicines, control pressure-cholesterol, quit smoking are a must for effective and careful management of diabetes under medical guidance.
Dr. Bajaj informed, "Diabetic pregnancy is very crucial. It is recommended that a woman with pre-existing diabetes (both type 1 & type 2), who becomes pregnant, should monitor her BG levels up to 8 times daily. Proper intake of food, exercise, lifestyle change, regular monitoring of glucose level, timely intake of medicines and control pressure-cholesterol is all a patient needs to do to prevent themselves and the baby from all the ills that can be caused by Diabetes."
"Check-ups should be performed on a regular, consistent basis to ensure that the diabetes is not negatively affecting the reproductive organs. The health care provider will determine how often one should visit with him/her depending on the overall health of the patient and the baby", she added.
Dr. Pai continued, "No particular cause has been defined to lead to gestational diabetes but it should be taken into medical consideration. Congenital Malformations & Intra Uterine Death are some effects a diabetic mother has on a Foetus, preventing themselves and the baby by regular medical checkups and exercising is what ideally should be done and is recommended."
