Gestational diabetes is a condition that can develop during pregnancy. If you’re expecting, it’s important to know the symptoms so you can seek medical help right away.
Even if you’ve never had diabetes before, pregnancy can increase your risk of developing gestational diabetes. Essentially, diabetes is when your body can’t use sugar properly, leading to a dangerous buildup. While genetics and diet can play a role, the hormonal changes during pregnancy can also trigger this condition. Typically, gestational diabetes goes away after the baby is born.
About one in every 25 pregnant women get gestational diabetes, usually in the last three months of pregnancy, though it can occur earlier. The hormone changes during pregnancy can disrupt how your body processes sugar, especially due to hormones from the placenta. Overweight women and women over 30 are at a higher risk.
Common signs of gestational diabetes include extreme hunger and thirst. While increased appetite and thirst can be normal in pregnancy, extreme cases might indicate diabetes. This condition also causes you to urinate more often because your body is trying to get rid of the excess sugar in your blood.
Other symptoms include:
– Excessive thirst due to dehydration from frequent urination
– Extreme hunger because your body can’t get enough energy from glucose
– Possible weight loss, even though you’re eating more, because your body uses proteins and fats for energy instead of glucose
– Fatigue from low energy levels
– Irritability
– Blurry vision from increased blood volume affecting your eyes
Most women with gestational diabetes don’t show obvious symptoms, which is why testing between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy is crucial. This test, called the oral glucose tolerance test, involves drinking a sugary solution and then measuring your blood sugar after an hour. If the levels are 130-140 mg/dl or higher, further testing will be needed.
If diagnosed, you’ll need to follow a specific diet and exercise regimen and may be given a glucose monitor to keep track of your sugar levels.
If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately.