Gestational diabetes is a serious condition that is characterized by high blood sugar levels during the second half of your pregnancy. Three to eight out of every 100 pregnant women will acquire gestational diabetes. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can impact the health of your newborn in several ways.
High Birth Weight
When you have gestational diabetes, your body produces excess insulin, causing glucose levels to rise in your body as well as that of your unborn baby. Your baby's body responds to your high glucose levels by storing extra fat, which can cause your baby to be larger than normal at the time of birth. High birth weight, or macrosomia, can lead to complications for your baby including difficult delivery and risk for diabetes and obesity later in life.
Low Blood Sugar
If you have high blood sugar during your pregnancy, which is typical of gestational diabetes, your baby can be born with low blood sugar. After the birth, your newborn's body is deprived of the continuous supply of sugar from your body. This causes low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, in your baby. Hypoglycemia is typically most severe during your baby's first few days of life. It is a serious but treatable condition, and it often improves quickly.
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors for gestational diabetes. One of the primary risk factors is being overweight. Your risk is also elevated if you have a parent or sibling who has diabetes. If you have had gestational diabetes in the past, or if you have given birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds, your risk is substantial. If your ethnicity is African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino or Pacific Islander, you are at a greater risk as well.
Other Complications
There are additional complications that can arise because of your baby's large size at the time of birth. These include injury or trauma during birth and difficulty with breathing. The most serious complication of untreated gestational diabetes is a slight increase in your baby's risk of death. Controlling your blood sugar levels can drastically reduce this risk. If you are pregnant and think you might have gestational diabetes, contact your health care provider immediately.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; What I Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes; April 2006
- American Diabetes Association; What is Gestational Diabetes?
- The New York Times Health Guide; Diabetes Is a Risk in Pregnancy That Carries Risks Beyond; Jane E.Brody; July 2011
- University of California San Francisco; Diabetes in Pregnancy; April 2011
