Gestational Diabetes Symptoms: List of Symptoms and Signs of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects pregnant women.

If you are pregnant, you should be aware of the symptoms of gestational diabetes to seek medical attention immediately.

Although there had diabetes during the course of your life, you may be at risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is a condition in which the body fails to properly use sugar.

This excess sugar builds up in the body and can be potentially fatal if left unchecked. Although this condition can be caused by a genetic predisposition, diet, and other external factors, women who are pregnant are also at risk of developing diabetes due to the changes that your body undergoes.

Normally, when the baby is born, diabetes disappears.

What causes gestational diabetes?

Approximately one in 25 pregnant women affected by gestational diabetes.

Usually, this type of diabetes occurs during the last three months of pregnancy but potentially can occur before that time.

The increase in hormones that are present during pregnancy can completely change the body chemistry of a woman.

In addition, these hormones can cause someone who has never had trouble converting sugars into energy suddenly cannot do it properly.

Specific hormones that are believed to be the cause of the problem come from the placenta.

Although not all women are likely to develop gestational diabetes are at higher risk of overweight women and women over 30 years.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes

The most common signs associated with gestational diabetes are extreme hunger and thirst.

Although not very hungry any unusual symptoms for a pregnant woman, extreme feelings may be signs of gestational diabetes.

Along with the increase in fluid intake urine production increases. Again, if you urinate very often can be a sign of gestational diabetes.

Frequent Urination – caused by high levels of glucose that increases blood flow to the kidneys.

Excessive thirst – Results from dehydration urinary output.

Extreme hunger – Because glucose cannot enter the cells of the body by a lack of insulin the body suffers from an energy deficit, causing hunger.

Or unusual weight loss – Despite eating more the body loses weight because it breaks down proteins and fats to compensate for the energy deficit.

Fatigue – caused by decreased energy.

Irritability

Blurry vision – Caused by increased blood volume that causes inflammation of the eye lens.

However, most women have no obvious symptoms of gestational diabetes. Because of this, it is vitally important that all women can get tested for gestational diabetes late in the second quarter at around 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.

This test is called the oral glucose tolerance. During testing of pregnant women will consume a drink containing 50 g glucose. After an hour of your blood glucose level is tested and if it is equal or greater than 130-140 mg/dl after the test will require further studies.

If gestational diabetes is diagnosed pregnant women will have to follow a diet and exercise plan created for your individual needs. Many times you will be prescribed a glucose meter like Dexcom’s blood glucose monitor device which will help you keep your sugars in check.

If you believe you are suffering from any of these symptoms, consult your doctor.