What is gestational diabetes during pregnancy?
Gestational diabetes refers to the spike in glucose levels in the mother’s bloodstream during pregnancy204. While it usually recedes or disappears after birth5, it is still an important medical issue that all pregnant mothers need to be highly aware of.
While this is more common during the second or third trimester, women can develop gestational diabetes at any point during their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes causes can be attributed to the body’s failure to produce enough insulin, resulting in an excess of glucose in the bloodstream. While gestational diabetes can cause serious damage to both the mother and baby, the risks and fear can be greatly reduced if a diagnosis is reached early and managed effectively.
This article will discuss gestational diabetes risk in pregnancy, some common gestational diabetes symptoms, and when you should consider getting a pre-emptive screening for it.