Posted on August 2, 2007 in Latest News
During the state of pregnancy two to three percent of women tend to develop Diabetes. This type of diabetes is called Gestational Diabetes. It needs to be properly controlled in order to prevent any harm to the mother and the baby.
Gestational diabetes is temporary. It usually begins in the second half of pregnancy, and goes away after the baby is born. This aspect differentiates it from the more common forms of diabetes which, once they occur, are permanent.
Why does it happen?
Glucose is a sugar that results from the digestion of food. With the help of insulin, a hormone released by your pancreas, your body breaks down the glucose to be used as energy. Glucose is also the body’s main source of nourishment. During pregnancy, the glucose is delivered through the placenta to the fetus and is your baby’s only source of nourishment.
Gestational diabetes develops in women during pregnancy because the mother’s body won’t produce enough insulin. This happens because the placenta produces certain hormones, which help in the development of the baby, but make it difficult for the mother’s body to use insulin.
The production of these hormones increases halfway through pregnancy. This leads to lack of insulin in the mother’s body. Without sufficient insulin the blood sugar levels rise. Excess glucose levels in the bloodstream result in diabetes.
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