DAY BY DAY

OC's best family calendar

October 2008 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

KID

QUIPS

During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE

SUBMIT YOUR QUIP

Feature Story

Gestational Diabetes Increases Risk Important information for pregnant diabetics. By Kimberly A. PorrazzoPublished: September, 2004

Print This Article Email This Article RSS Subscribe Digg This Article

Editor's Note: This is part of a yearlong series, Defy Diabetes. You're in shape. So far, you've enjoyed a healthy pregnancy. Then all of the sudden your doctor says, "You have gestational diabetes." What now? How did this happen? What can be done? Incidents of gestational diabetes, a condition in which a pregnant woman experiences elevated levels of blood glucose, have increased 35% between 1991 and 2000, according to a recently released report by Kaiser Permanente. The rise in cases parallels the increased number of type 2 diabetes cases diagnosed in the past several years. The good news is that in most cases the condition is temporary and an affected woman's blood glucose will likely return to normal after delivery. The bad news is that the same woman has a 66% chance of developing gestational diabetes in future pregnancies. Of more concern is the baby. The Kaiser Permanente report, which appears in the Feb. 27 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, notes that a diagnosis of gestational diabetes for mom can mean triple the risk of her children developing diabetes, as well as her daughters experiencing gestational diabetes when they become pregnant. More immediate concerns include birth issues. Because the mother has extra blood sugar in her system, and the hormone insulin (which takes sugar from the blood stream) does not penetrate the placenta, the baby receives more sugar than it needs. The result is that the excess sugar is stored as fat, sometimes leading to a condition known as macrosomia, which can cause problems during delivery and problems for the baby after birth. Because the baby's pancreas has been working overtime to rid the body of sugar, the baby can be born with low blood sugar. This can result in breathing problems, while the excess fat can eventually put the child at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Another concern is that almost 40% of women who were obese before becoming pregnant and are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during their late pregnancies will go on to develop type 2 diabetes within four years. If you are told you have gestational diabetes, don't panic. With a routine of healthful eating, including low glycemic foods and moderate exercise (known to rid the blood of excess glucose), you can control your blood sugar level and deliver a healthy baby without any complications. As always, consult with your physician for more information. - Kimberly A. Porrazzo

SEARCH THE SITE