Gestational diabetes is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and can be harmful to both baby and mother. Complications for the baby include high birth weight, respiratory distress and jaundice. Complications for the mother include preeclampsia, urinary tract infections and an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes is easily diagnosed with glucose tolerance tests. Those tests are conducted because some women have no symptoms of diabetes during pregnancy.
Excessive Thirst
If you have gestational diabetes, you may experience a thirst that seems unquenchable. You won't be simply thirsty, but you will find water or other liquids inadequate at quenching your thirst. Healthcare experts at MayoClinic.com report this as a rare symptom, but one that is closely linked to gestational diabetes.
Excessive Urination
Most pregnant women visit the bathroom more frequently later in a pregnancy because of the pressure of the uterus on the bladder. However, if you find yourself constantly running to the bathroom at 24 weeks, coupled with excessive thirst, it's important to report this to your doctor who can test for diabetes.
Sugar in Urine
The glucose tolerance test is usually the first test given during pregnancy to diagnose gestational diabetes. However, if you have had diabetes during a previous pregnancy or have other symptoms of the disease, your doctor may ask for a urine sample. Sugar in the urine is a symptom of diabetes, because it means the sugar is not being metabolized by your body.
Risk Factors
If you have any risk factors for gestational diabetes, your obstetrician may send you for an early diabetes screening, or you may be screened more than once. According to the medical experts at the BabyCenter website, risk factors are obesity, a strong family history of diabetes, gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, having given birth to a baby weighing more than 8 lbs. 14 oz., having high blood pressure, being over 35 years of age and having had a stillbirth or given birth to a baby with a birth defect.
