Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before, but who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnancies, making it one of the top health concerns related to pregnancy.

What is the cause of gestational diabetes?
While no-one really knows the cause, there are some factors that is might increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes. These include:

• A family history of diabetes
• Obesity in the woman
• Having had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
• Older maternal age (over the age of 30).
• A previous delivery of a large (greater than 9 pounds) baby .

What are the risks of gestational diabetes?
High sugar levels in your blood can be unhealthy for both you and your baby. If a woman had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes have a greater change of developing diabetes, but there is also some other risks involved, such as macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth, or a higher risk for breathing problems.

Treating gestational diabetes
In most cases, gestational diabetes is managed by diet and exercise, and goes away after the baby is born. But because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, it is important to start treatment quickly. You should consult your doctor for special meal plans and scheduled physical activity.

There is no reason to panic
While gestational diabetes is a cause for concern, the good news with the correct diet and exercise, you can keep your blood glucose levels under control, and give a healthy start for your baby.

Andrew Palmer helps maintain Diabetesweb, an informational site on everything related to diabetes. Be sure to check it out if you need further information on gestational diabetes.

The Guardian

Diabetes in pregnancy ups birth defects risk Times of India Diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects, such as congenital heart disease and spina bifida, by four-fold, researchers say. National guidelines already recommend having good control over blood sugar levels before trying to conceive ... Diabetes quadruples birth defects risk, say researchersBBC News Diabetes 'raises birth defect risk'The Press Association Women with diabetes warned to take precautions when having a babyThe Guardian Daily Mail all 209 news articles »

Take steps to detect, reverse pre-diabetes Wisconsin Rapids Tribune Pre-diabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar is elevated but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. It's a very important condition to understand because there are so many people who, if they realized they had pre-diabetes, ... The Diabetic Week in Review -- Week Ending 4 February 2012Examiner.com all 2 news articles »

Research and Markets: Brazil Diabetes Care Devices Market Outlook to 2017 ... SunHerald.com GlobalData's new report, Brazil Diabetes Care Devices Market Outlook to 2017- Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery provides key market data on the Brazil Diabetes Care Devices market. The report provides value (USD million), volume (units) and ... and more »

TopNews United States

Diabetes: Celebrating The Silent Killer Leadership Newspapers With the worsening incidence of diabetes sweepiing across the world, EZRA IJIOMA examines the different types of diabetes and reasons for its high incidence in Nigeria. In 2003, when he was 21 years old, Ken developed a puzzling, unquenchable thirst. A Stomach Bug and DiabetesdailyRx Diabetes is his daily challengeBlacktown Sun Former office manager, a diabetic, sues Casper company for discriminationCasper Star-Tribune Online MLB.com -The Cypress Times -TopNews United States all 11 news articles »

Medical experts meet in S'pore for diabetes workshop Channel News Asia SINGAPORE: Leading international experts in type 2 diabetes are in Singapore to address specific challenges and opportunities of bariatric or metabolic surgery for Asian patients and health care systems. The Asia-Pacific Workshop on Metabolic Surgery ... and more »

PR Web (press release)

Diabetes is One of the Fastest Deadly Growing Diseases around the World PR Web (press release) According to the Centers for Disease Control in the USA: Diabetes is an epidemic. 17 million Americans have diabetes with 5.9 million completely unaware that they even have the disease. Diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States ...

Diabetes amputations drop, but disease expands SouthCoastToday.com By ANIKA CLARK The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published good news recently for the nation's diabetic adults. In 2008, substantially fewer of them 40 and older received lower limb amputations than they had 12 years prior.

US Drug Watchdog Expands Their Initiative for Diabetics Who Used the Diabetes ... San Francisco Chronicle (press release) The US Drug Watchdog says, "We totally underestimated the number of diabetics in the United States, who used the diabetes drug called Actos, and now have bladder cancer. We now believe the number of diabetics, who used the diabetes drug called Actos, ...

The Curse of Amylin's Diabetes Drug Approval TheStreet.com ... after more than two and a half years, two FDA rejection letters, and at least a dozen amendments to the application, Amylin Pharmaceuticals(AMLN) received FDA approval for Bydureon, a once-weekly formulation of its existing diabetes drug Byetta.

Sports-themed windows to benefit diabetes research Muncie Star Press MUNCIE -- Pat L. Smith, owner of build, LLC, is offering a collection of sports-themed windows and doors to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Smith's son, Eric, was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at the age of 23 while serving ...

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