{"id":1461,"date":"2021-07-26T16:17:10","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T16:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/?p=1461"},"modified":"2021-12-05T07:04:07","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T07:04:07","slug":"what-is-gestational-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/what-is-gestational-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT IS GESTATIONAL DIABETES?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1461\" class=\"elementor elementor-1461\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b2aa177 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b2aa177\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e41b700\" data-id=\"e41b700\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ab7d27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6ab7d27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sheetal (name changed) ,a 30-year-old Primigravida ,went for a blood test called an OGTT with 75 glucose load at 24 weeks pregnancy and was appalled when the results showed high blood sugars. She had a family history of Diabetes in both parents but prior to her pregnancy, she never had high blood sugars.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sheetal is a typical case of Gestational DM, which is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. There is good news though. This affects your health and your baby\u2019s but you can control it easily by diet, exercise, lifestyle modifications and occasionally medication. The bad news however is that it may lead to Type 2 Diabetes later in life and your baby too may suffer from childhood obesity and Diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-60c7ca8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"60c7ca8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ea7c9e\" data-id=\"1ea7c9e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-682a822 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"682a822\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>RISK FACTORS<\/strong><\/h2><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family history of DM<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Race: We Asians are at a higher risk compared to Whites<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve had a previous pregnancy with GDM or Prediabetes<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve delivered a baby with a birth weight of 4.1 kg or more<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-283fde7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"283fde7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4e2ef63\" data-id=\"4e2ef63\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fcb045 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4fcb045\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GDM?<\/strong><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There aren\u2019t many symptoms except maybe increased thirst or urination. Most times it\u2019s only detected when we test for sugars at 24-28 weeks or in the case of high-risk patients, at the first antenatal visit.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-700986e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"700986e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e0d915b\" data-id=\"e0d915b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b30c064 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b30c064\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>COMPLICATIONS:<\/strong><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s divide these into complications for you and for your baby<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For your baby, it may lead to<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased birth weight<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Birth injuries like shoulder dystocia and collar bone fractures etc.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 times greater risk of a Caesarean delivery<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 times greater risk of NICU care<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypoglycemia and some other biochemical derangements after delivery<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathing difficulties, Respiratory Distress Syndrome<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stillbirths<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater chance of obesity and DM later in life<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0edd20b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0edd20b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8e9e1e6\" data-id=\"8e9e1e6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a15df64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a15df64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>For you, it may lead to<\/strong><\/h2><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased chance of difficult vaginal delivery owing to a big baby<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaginal and perineal tears<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caesarean delivery<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Future DM<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6a44d48 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6a44d48\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3145e9f\" data-id=\"3145e9f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36e254d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36e254d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>PREVENTION OF GDM:<\/strong><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with most lifestyle illnesses prevention and first-line treatment is by lifestyle changes. Eating a healthy diet rich in green vegetables and fruits<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lean meat, whole grains high in nutrition and low in calories and fats. Simple carbohydrates like sugars and desserts are to be limited. Regular meals and snacks with small portion sizes are desired. Talk to your nutritionist or doctor to help you with a diet chart.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercising 5-6 times a week for at least 30-45 minutes, unless contraindicated by your doctor is most vital.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cutting alcohol and smoking completely is required and maintaining a healthy weight even before you become pregnant is vital to ease your journey with GDM.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should not gain more weight than recommended.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5018e2a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5018e2a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4604c64\" data-id=\"4604c64\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2924147 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2924147\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>TREATMENT<\/strong><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned above , lifestyle modifications are crucial to controlling high blood sugars in GDM, which in turn reduce the complications of the disease.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will need to buy a glucometer and monitor your blood sugar levels 4 or more times a day.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication like Insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs may be needed depending on your blood sugar control or lack of it; the dose being adjusted accordingly.Most times it is only 10-20% patients who need medication.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your baby\u2019s growth is monitored by serial ultrasounds and other tests including checking for the amniotic fluid volume and Dopplers to determine blood flows.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delivery is done at around 38 weeks or even later if all is well; your doctor is the best judge of it and you must have a frank and detailed chat with her about the birth plan . Sometimes, however a preterm delivery may happen owing to complications of the disease.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following delivery ,your blood sugars will be checked , one OGTT will be repeated 6 weeks later and then you will need follow up at least every 2-3 years if not more frequently .<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">REMEMBER GDM IS EASILY CONTROLLED WITH DIET,EXERCISE, HEALTHY LIVING AND MEDICINES AND PREVENTION IS ALSO BY LIFESTYLE CHANGES. LETS STAY FIT AND BEAT THESE LIFESTYLE ILLNESSES -LETS BEGIN BEFORE PREGNANCY;IN FACT,LETS BEGIN NOW!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sheetal (name changed) ,a 30-year-old Primigravida ,went for a blood test called an OGTT with 75 glucose load at 24 weeks pregnancy and was appalled when the results showed high blood sugars. She had a family history of Diabetes in both parents but prior to her pregnancy, she never had high blood sugars. Sheetal is&#8230; <span class=\"more\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/what-is-gestational-diabetes\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&#8594;<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-women-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1461"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1467,"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1461\/revisions\/1467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}