Definition
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is more common suffered by women, especialy for those who are pregnant. It is defined as glucose intolerance of variable degree with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. A study by Stuebe et al found this condition to be associated with persistent metabolic dysfunction in women at 3 years after delivery, separate from other clinical risk factors.[1]
Infants of mothers with preexisting diabetes mellitus experience double the risk of serious injury at birth, triple the likelihood of cesarean delivery, and quadruple the incidence of newborn intensive care unit (NICU) admission.
Gestational diabetes mellitus accounts for 90% of cases of diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, while preexisting type 2 diabetes accounts for 8% of such cases.
Essential update: Supplemental calcium and vitamin D may improve metabolic profile of women with GDM
According to a randomized, placebo-controlled study of pregnant women with GDM, supplemental calcium plus vitamin D at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation may have beneficial effects on metabolic profile.
Researchers found that women treated with 1,000 mg calcium per day for six weeks and 50,000 U vitamin D3 at baseline and on day 21 of the 6-week intervention showed significant improvements in fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin levels, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.[2, 3]
The Symptoms are:
For most women, gestational diabetes doesn't cause noticeable signs or symptoms.
If possible, seek health care early — when you first think about trying to get pregnant — so your doctor can evaluate your risk of gestational diabetes as part of your overall childbearing wellness plan. Once you're pregnant, your doctor will address gestational diabetes as part of your prenatal care. If you develop gestational diabetes, you may need more-frequent checkups. These are most likely to occur during the last three months of pregnancy, when your doctor will monitor your blood sugar level and your baby's health.
Your doctor may refer you to additional health professionals who specialize in diabetes, such as an endocrinologist, a registered dietitian or a diabetes educator. They can help you learn to manage your blood sugar level during your pregnancy.
To make sure your blood sugar level has returned to normal after your baby is born, your health care team will check your blood sugar right after delivery and again in six weeks. Once you've had gestational diabetes, it's a good idea to have your blood sugar level tested regularly.
The frequency of blood sugar tests will in part depend on your test results soon after you deliver your baby.
