gestational diabetes

 Gestational diabetes is diabetes that only affects a woman during pregnancy. It affects 10 in 100 women so is very common. Its not to be confused with diabetes that exists as a condition BEFORE you become pregnant. With gestational diabetes women who are afflicted typically go back to normal after pregnancy and have normal blood sugar and insulin levels. If you suffer from gestational diabetes once then the chances are high that you will experience it in future pregnancies. Its is believed that gestational diabetes occurs because a pregnant woman’s body produces less insulin than normal and /or also because a pregnant woman’s body cannot process insulin like it can in a non pregnant state. This causes high blood sugar levels in the woman and is a key reason that blood sugar is tested for during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can result in a large baby and make giving birth difficult. Other pregnancy complications that can occur with gestational diabetes include infections of the uterus, bladder, cervix and kidneys. It is highly recommended that your doctor help you regulate your blood sugar levels during pregnancy if you have diabetes and part of this plan will probably include eating smaller meals more regularly and having some form of regular exercise.