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The Hindu : Gestational diabetesIf sugar levels are not kept under proper control, problems could be expected during pregnancySunanda is in her 28th week of pregnancy and has just been told that she has developed diabetes in pregnancy. Diabetes that develops or is first detected in pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes.Sunetra, on the other hand, has been a diabetic for the past three years. She is 29 years old and is pregnant for the first time. Both of them may expect some problems in pregnancy if the sugar levels are not kept under good control.Gestational diabetesDiabetes caused by pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually begins in the second half of pregnancy.This condition is becoming more common in Indian women and may affect up to 10 per cent of pregnant women. Unless properly controlled, it can lead to problems for both the mother and her baby.The blood sugar levels, as a rule, return to normal after the baby is born. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that developing gestational diabetes is a warning that a woman may develop full-blown diabetes later on in life.What increases the chances of developing diabetes in pregnancy?The risk of developing gestational diabetes increases with – age over 30, being overweight prior to pregnancy, a family history of diabetes, a history of diabetes in a previous pregnancy, a big baby in a previous pregnancy, a history of a stillbirth late in pregnancy, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?Your obstetrician will test you with a glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you have had gestational diabetes in an earlier pregnancy, your blood sugars will be checked at your first antenatal check up and if normal, will be repeated at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.Diabetes before pregnancyIf you have diabetes before pregnancy, you must be particularly careful about keeping your blood sugar levels well under control before…More