Are you pregnant? Have Diabetes? Dangerous or Not?

Diabetes during pregnancy is also called gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is something to be wary of, but it does not only attack mothers who are obese and have suffered from diabetes in the past. However, testing for this disease should also be carried out on mothers with normal weight without a history of diabetes.

Normally, various hormones work in the body  to control blood sugar levels. However, during pregnancy, hormone levels change, making it difficult for the body to  process blood sugar efficiently. If a pregnant woman has diabetes, the risks that occur are:

• High blood pressure and preeclampsia. This is a serious complication during pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and other symptoms that can threaten the lives of both mother and baby.
• Having a cesarean delivery. Mothers are more likely to have a caesarean section if they have gestational diabetes.
• Having diabetes later in life. If the mother had diabetes during pregnancy, she is more likely to develop it again during subsequent pregnancies, and also has a higher risk of type 2 diabetes as she gets older.

Not only the mother, but the unborn baby has risks, namely:

• Early birth (premature). High blood sugar increases a mother's risk of giving birth earlier than the expected date. Or early delivery may be recommended because the baby is large.
• Uncontrolled blood sugar levels during pregnancy also increase the risk of your little one being born with disabilities. This is because blood sugar levels that are too high in the fetus's body disrupt the process of forming its body's organs. Some conditions that often occur in babies born to mothers with diabetes include spinal defects, holes in the heart, and cleft lips.
• This excess sugar in the blood and insulin can cause the baby to have more fat, especially in the upper part of the body, so that the baby will gain weight. Some time after the baby is born, there is a possibility that the baby will have low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). This is because the body still produces excess insulin in response to the mother's high glucose intake. If control of blood sugar levels is poor, there is a possibility that the baby's heart function could be affected.

Having gestational diabetes means you have to regularly check with your doctor, especially to discuss whether your blood sugar levels are currently under control or not. Apart from that, pregnant women also need to change their lifestyle to be healthier. For example, by choosing the types and portions of food and drinks more carefully, moving more actively, getting enough exercise and drinking lots of water. Also avoid staying up late and stress because both tend to make Mama want to eat more sweet foods. Don't hesitate to consult a doctor to get the right treatment.