How Can I Tell If I Have Gestational Diabetes?

How Can I Tell If I Have Gestational Diabetes
Symptoms of gestational diabetes – Gestational diabetes does not usually cause any symptoms. Most cases are only discovered when your blood sugar levels are tested during screening for gestational diabetes. Some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar levels gets too high (hyperglycaemia), such as:

increased thirst needing to pee more often than usuala dry mouthtirednessblurred eyesightgenital itching or thrush

But some of these symptoms are common during pregnancy and are not necessarily a sign of gestational diabetes. Speak to your midwife or doctor if you’re worried about any symptoms you’re experiencing.

Is gestational diabetes a high-risk pregnancy?

Complications that may affect you – Gestational diabetes may also increase your risk of:

High blood pressure and preeclampsia. Gestational diabetes raises your risk of high blood pressure, as well as preeclampsia — a serious complication of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and other symptoms that can threaten both your life and your baby’s life. Having a surgical delivery (C-section). You’re more likely to have a C-section if you have gestational diabetes. Future diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, you’re more likely to get it again during a future pregnancy. You also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes as you get older.

Who is at risk for gestational diabetes?

You’re more likely to have gestational diabetes if you: Are older than 25. Are overweight or obese and not physically active. Have had gestational diabetes or a baby with macrosomia in a past pregnancy.

Can gestational diabetes start in first trimester?

Diagnosis – Gestational diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test, Your blood glucose level is measured after you drink a sweet beverage. If your blood sugar is too high, you have gestational diabetes. Sometimes one test is all that’s needed to make a definitive diagnosis.

More often, an initial screening test is done, followed by a longer evaluation. Gestational diabetes usually does not occur until later in pregnancy, when the placenta is producing more of the hormones that interfere with the mother’s insulin. Screening for gestational diabetes usually takes place between weeks 24 to 28, but women at high risk are likely to be screened in the first trimester.

Can you get gestational diabetes in second trimester?

What is gestational diabetes? – Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy. If you have diabetes, your body can’t use the sugar (glucose) in your blood as well as it should. This causes the level of sugar in your blood to become higher than normal.

Can you get gestational diabetes at 20 weeks?

What causes gestational diabetes? – Healthcare providers don’t know what causes gestational diabetes. But they do know what happens. The placenta gives your growing baby nutrients and water. The placenta also makes several hormones to keep the pregnancy healthy. These hormones include:

Estrogen Progesterone Cortisol Human placental lactogen

These hormones can affect how your body uses insulin (contra-insulin effect). This often begins about 20 to 24 weeks into your pregnancy and could lead to gestational diabetes. During pregnancy, more fat is stored in your body, you take in more calories, and you may get less exercise.

All of these things can make your blood sugar (glucose) levels higher than normal and possibly lead to gestational diabetes.
As the placenta grows, it makes more of the hormones.
The risk for insulin resistance becomes greater.
Normally your pancreas is able to make more insulin to overcome insulin resistance.