Gestational diabetes warning signs from dry mouth to tiredness
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that can develop during any stage of pregnancy. It is more likely to occur in the second or third trimester and usually disappears after giving birth.
It happens when your body cannot produce the amount of extra insulin your body needs during pregnancy. According to the NHS, it's often not an issue but sometimes it may cause issues for you and your baby during pregnancy and after birth.
There is a lower risk of any problems if it is detected early and well-managed. You will be screened for the condition after an initial antenatal appointment if they feel you are at risk.
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After an initial antenatal appointment, your midwife will screen you for the condition if they feel you are at risk. They will carry out an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which takes about 2 hours and is done when you're between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant.
It involves having a blood test in the morning, on an empty stomach. After this you are given a glucose drink.
Then, two hours later, another blood sample is taken to see how your body is dealing with the glucose.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is quite hard to detect as it does not usually cause any symptoms. Some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar levels get too high, such as:
- increased thirst
a dry mouth
- needing to pee more often than usual
- tiredness
- blurred eyesight
- genital itching or thrush
Most of these symptoms can occur during pregnancy so if there is concern it is important to speak to your midwife about what you are experiencing.
Who's at risk?
Any pregnant woman can get gestational diabetes, but some factors increase the risk. They include if:
- you are above 40
you had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
- your body mass index (BMI) is above 30
- you previously had a baby who weighed 4.5kg (10lb) or more at birth
- a parent or sibling has diabetes
- you are of south Asian, Black, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern origin (even if you were born in the UK)
- you have had a gastric bypass or other weight-loss surgery
Problems gestational diabetes can cause
Although most people with gestational diabetes experience a healthy pregnancy, some people do face issues during pregnancy and after birth. These include:
- your baby growing larger than usual – increasing your chance of needing induced labour or a caesarean section
- polyhydramnios – large amounts of the fluid (amniotic) that surrounds the baby in the womb. This can cause problems at delivery
- premature birth
- pre-eclampsia– a condition that causes high blood pressure and can create complications
- your baby being born with jaundice your baby
- the loss of your baby - this is rare
Despite gestational diabetes going away after birth, it does mean you are at an increased risk of getting type two diabetes in the future. It can also redevelop in future pregnancies.
If you have the condition you should have regular blood tests post giving birth. A blood test is needed six to thirteen weeks after and then after that, once a year.
Treatments
Often you won't need any medicine for gestational diabetes and controlling your blood sugar levels may be enough. You can do so with a blood sugar testing kit that you will be given.
Ways to reduce your blood sugar levels include being more active and changing your diet. It is only if these changes don't lower your blood sugar levels enough that you will be given medicine.
This could be insulin injections or tablets. The condition also often means induction of labour or a caesarean may be recommended as it is better to give birth before 41 weeks.
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