Education for Diabetes

Hi Everyone,
Im about to start trying for a second child and have some concerns about diabetes. I had gestational diabetes with my first child and was insulin dependent for the last 8 weeks of my pregnancy. I was wondering if anyone knew the chances of getting it the 2nd time around? Also, I’ve been hearing about women who had gestational diabetes for 2 consecutive pregnancies and then ended up keeping diabetes for their lifetime. Does anyone know any information on this as well?

Gestational diabetes is the third type of diabetes which occurs typically during pregnancy. Although it may disappear after the baby is born, if the condition is left untreated, then it may not only harm the health of the mother but also the health of the fetus too. In a small number of cases, gestational diabetes occurs temporarily during pregnancy.

The symptoms seen in gestational diabetes patients are almost the same as the symptoms of diabetes mellitus. The patient experiences increased thirst and passes urine frequently. It is very important that the sugar level in the blood is tested by the prenatal medical team at regular intervals, so that it can be kept under control. The high levels of insulin in the mother’s system can result in large babies, although no birth defects have been known to occur.

During the first trimester most birth defects manifest themselves, and gestational diabetes does not typically occur until the second trimester. Factors that need to be considered during pregnancy to determine whether or not the mother is at risk, are whether she had gestational diabetes during her previous pregnancy, if the previous baby was overweight and also the age of the mother. Chances are that the mother will develop type 2 diabetes later in life if she has gestational diabetes during her pregnancy – even if the condition disappeared after she gave birth.

If a woman is at risk of getting gestational diabetes or is showing symptoms of the disease, she should get the required tests done by the 28th week or even earlier if she had experienced it during her previous pregnancy. The tests will be done by a physician performing glucose tests to determine if there are increased chances of getting gestational diabetes, after which extensive tests can be done to complete the diagnosis.

Gestational diabetes can put your baby at risk! The mother has the risk of developing type 2 diabetes at a later stage, as well as hypertension or high blood pressure. Some of the most common problems seen in infants are:

• Macrosomia (excessive birth weight)
• Jaundice
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Low calcium
• Levels of magnesium
• Increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life

Once the problem is diagnosed, the treatment started will depend on the health of the mother. The age and weight of the mother have to be considered. The treatment will be given according to her preference. Either she could opt for a strict diet regime and exercise with proper monitoring of blood sugar levels or, in more severe cases, she could go for insulin treatment. Whatever method is chosen, the main focus will be on controlling the sugar levels in the blood.

I had a gestational diabetes when i was pregnant ,but i controled it by exersice and diet. I had a good glucose test result 6 weeks after delivery.Fom 2 weeks ago(17 months after delivery) ,I found out my diabetes has came back again.I am 26 years old and so tiny and have no history of dibetes in my family and eat healthy foods.What is the reason that i diagnose with diabetes.Is this possible that this is temporary?

I will have the normal test for gestational diabetes at 28 weeks. how much blood is typically drawn for this test?

I just found out I have gestational diabetes. This is my 3rd pregnancy, but the first time that I’ve had this. I have been a lot more tired and irritated during this pregnancy than the others. Could the gestational diabetes have anything to do with that?

There are known three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. In this affection the glucose can not be used properly by the body and so, energy can not be produced in enough quantities. All this is due to a lack of insulin or a malfunctioning of insulin, which leads to an accumulation of glucose in blood instead of an accumulation of glucose in the cells of the body. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and its role is to take the glucose from the blood and lead it into the cells of the body where energy will be produced.

Diabetes type 1 is known to occur during childhood and was named as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The pancreas is not able to produce the insulin any more as the cells responsible to this process have been destroyed by the body. These patients require insulin injections permanently.

Diabetes type 2, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus occurs mostly during adulthood. In this case the insulin is not produced in sufficient quantities or it is not effective on the body cells.

In the gestational diabetes women have plenty of insulin but this does not work properly because it is blocked by hormones released by the placenta (estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen hormone). This hormonal effect begins from week 20 to 24 of pregnancy. In most of the pregnant women the pancreas is able to produce more insulin to fight over the hormonal effect. When the pancreas does not produce additional insulin the gestational diabetes installs. The good thing is that this kind of diabetes disappears after pregnancy is done without leaving any injuries.

There are some risk factors for gestational diabetes. Women who have a family history of diabetes, who are obese, who have given birth of a very large infant before, who are over 25 or who have too much amniotic fluid can develop gestational diabetes.

It is best for all pregnant women to take a test for gestational diabetes. The usual test is the 50 gram glucose screening test. The patient does not have to prepare in any way for this test and does not even have to feast like in other tests is needed. The patient will drink a liquid which contains 50 grams of glucose and after one hour the glucose level in blood will be measured. If the level is found to be higher than 140 mg/dl than the test is considered to be positive. This does not mean that the woman has gestational diabetes. It means that a further test is needed: the 3 hour glucose tolerance test must be done as it can confirm the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

This 3 hour glucose tolerance test needs special preparation from the patient. A diet containing at least 150 grams of carbohydrates must be followed for 3 days. With 10 to 14 hours before the test the patient is not allowed to eat anything, only to drink water. In the morning a blood test will be made, then the patient will be asked to drink a liquid containing 100 grams of glucose, and after 3 hour another blood test will be done.

So, if you want to find out more about type 2 diabetes or even about what causes diabetes please follow this link http://diabetes-info-center.com/

Types Of Diabetes

In medical parlance, this disease is known as “diabetes mellitus” – diabetes from the Greek word for siphon, to illustrate the excessive thirst and urination, which is characteristic of this condition, and mellitus from the Latin word for honey – as urine of a diabetic person contains sugar and is sweet.

Commonly, this disease is called diabetes.

There are many types of diabetes, but the three most common are:

« Type 1 diabetes

« Type 2 diabetes

« Gestational diabetes

1. Type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin dependent diabetes):

This is an autoimmune disease where the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. It can appear at any age, although mostly under 30 (very often in childhood or during teens), and is caused by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or people genetically predisposed. This type of diabetes, is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes.

It is not really known what causes type 1 diabetes and it is not caused by eating too much sugar or sweets.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although beta cell destruction can begin much earlier. Common symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme weakness. If not timely diagnosed and treated with insulin, a person with type 1 diabetes can go into life-threatening diabetic coma, also known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

2. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes):

This is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all diagnosed people. It is also known as late-onset diabetes, and is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.

Type 2 diabetes is genetic in origin, but other factors such as excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, ethnicity and faulty diet are its major risk factors. Symptoms may not show up for many years, and by the time they crop up, considerable harm may have been done to the body.

In this condition, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for reasons unknown, the body cannot use the insulin effectively – termed as insulin resistance. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make proficient use of its main source of energy.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Symptoms include weakness, nausea, frequent urination, excess thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds. Some people may show no symptoms.

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive, lifetime condition; and over time, it may be difficult to keep the blood glucose level in the target range. However, good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of complications.

One can do this by:

« Eating healthy meals and snacks

« Following regular physical activity

« Taking diabetes medications (including insulin), if prescribed.

3. Gestational diabetes:

Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy. In most cases, all diabetic symptoms disappear following delivery. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 % chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years, especially if they were overweight before the pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by blocking effects of other hormones (estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen) on the insulin that is produced, a condition referred to as insulin resistance. Normally, the pancreas is able to make additional insulin to overcome insulin resistance. However, when the production of insulin is not enough to overcome the effect of the placental hormones, gestational diabetes results.

Carbohydrate intolerance is diagnosed during pregnancy through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). While the carbohydrate intolerance usually returns to normal level after delivery, the mother has a significant risk of developing permanent diabetes later on; while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life.

Risk factors include a family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, obesity and being a member of a ethnic group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The complications of gestational diabetes are usually manageable and preventable. The key to prevention is careful control of blood sugar levels as soon as the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made.

Other types of diabetes -

4. Diabetes insipidus:

Diabetes insipidus is an uncommon condition, that occurs when the kidneys are unable to conserve water as they perform their function of filtering blood. The anti-diuretic hormone (ADH, also called vasopressin) controls the amount of water conserved. Diseases of the kidney (for example, polycystic kidney disease) and the effects of certain drugs may also cause nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

The common symptoms are excessive urination and extreme thirst.

5. Syndrome X:

Syndrome X, also known as the “metabolic syndrome” or “Insulin Resistance Syndrome”, is a condition that is linked to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

It is characterised by abdominal obesity, elevated levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Other symptoms include smoking, high fat and calorie diet, pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome.

This is more common in older people than in younger people. In addition, women were more likely to have the syndrome than men.

For diabetes information, Diabetes Testing, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

Many-a-times diabetes is spotted among expecting mothers in the period of their pregnancy. Such cases of diabetes can occur at any point or duration of the pregnancy. But to their in spite of, this type of diabetes is temporary in nature. And it is referred to as gestation diabetes.

Come visit us right here for more info on Insulin Resistance Diabetes. http://historyofdiabetes.org

The course of treatment for this type of diabetes is comparable to that of Type II diabetes. These patients are advised to keep check on their weight and remain active during pregnancy, provided there aren’t any other complications alongside.
If there’s a family history in the direct line of the mother then the possibilities of having diabetes of this kind is more. So, if the mother?s grandparents or any of her oldsters or any of her uncles and aunts who are in her direct blood line are patients of Diabetes I then she’s thought of as having a family history of diabetes.

Besides the family line of the mum there are other indicators about the likelihood of the occurrence of diabetes in a pregnant mother. If the ma has conceived at a late age, particularly after she’s forty five years of age or more, the possibility of the illness is higher. An otherwise younger person who is overweight, and therefore chunky, has the ideal figure to become a prey to this occurrence .
women bearing babies weighing more than nine pounds should be vigilant about diabetes. If there is elevated blood pressure during this period or there are high levels of triglycerides, or high blood cholesterol levels in the mother?s blood, then chances of having diabetes increase.

As for other types of diabetes, the way to keep diabetes in control is to follow a controlled lifestyle with acceptable changes thereof. Partaking healthy diet and regular exercise can do wonders for mothers-to-be sensed with gestation diabetes.
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http://historyofdiabetes.org

Diabetes Mellitus that occurs in pregnant women is also commonly termed as gestational diabetes. When you are diagnosed with this kind of condition usually on the last trimester of your pregnancy, you must follow what the doctor tells you about its management so that you will be able to protect yourself and also the baby from any complications. Gestational Diabetes prevention of any complications includes diet, medications and of course exercises. Following an exercise regimen is important in the control of the glucose level in the blood.

It is important that you seek consultation first before you try an exercise program especially that you are experiencing diabetes and at the same time carrying a baby with you. The doctor will give you advice as to what kind of exercises you will follow and what you need to do before doing certain forms of exertion. This is important so that you will not harm yourself and also that of the condition of the baby.

Before any kind of exercise, you must check your blood glucose level at the same time have something to eat. This prevents you from experiencing any Gestational Diabetes symptoms and complications. It also prevents any hypoglycemic attacks or lowering of blood sugar due to the utilizing of blood glucose for energy during the exercise. This kind of attack can be very fatal when not properly monitored. The dietitian or physician will tell you what type of food to eat before doing your exercises.

Prior to the start of your minimum of 30 minutes exercise, you must perform 5 to 10 minutes of warming up. You must prepare your body to what exercises you have planned today. This is enough time to adjust your body and your heart to physical activities. You can start slowly then gradually increase the level if you think that you can do it. Do not force yourself if your body cannot take it anymore. The important thing is you do this daily.

You can perform exercises like walking vigorously or in a faster pace than normal or light jogging which you can do even at home. You can go outside if you want some fresh air like going for a swim in the pool. This will help in lowering your blood glucose level at the same time strengthen your respiratory capacity. You can also visit your nearest gym or purchase simple gym equipments which you can still use even if you are not pregnant.

Gradually stop and let your body cool down from the exercise. After doing the exercise, you can check again your blood glucose if it is within normal levels. If for some reasons that in the middle of the exercise you are feeling dizzy and your hands are cold and clammy then stop what you are doing and immediately have a drink of orange juice or have a bit of something sweet.

The exercise regimen is important for someone experiencing gestational diabetes like you. It is part of the management and control of normal blood sugar levels in the body. You must be mindful of what you need to include in keeping yourself safe and the baby from the complications of diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes symptoms can be prevented through exercise. Doing regular exercises can help prevent the rise of blood glucose in the body. Visit http://gestationaldiabetessymptoms.org/ to learn more about it.

I’m at 7 weeks and I’ve been EXTREMELY thirsty throughout the past 4 weeks or so. I know that could be a symptom of gestational diabetes, and I have every intention of asking my dr. about it, but for now. What’s the usual time it starts or symptoms start showing?