What is diabetes (Gestational diabetes) during pregnancy?
While some women do not have a problem with insufficient secretion of the hormone insulin, they may face such a problem during pregnancy. With the progression of pregnancy (especially due to hormone irregularities and weight gain after the 24th week), the rate of sugar in the blood may increase as the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. This is called gestational diabetes.
What is the sugar loading test (Oral Glucose Tolerance)?
Thanks to the sugar loading test performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, a diagnosis is made as to whether the expectant mother has a pregnancy glucose problem and if necessary, she is treated.
1- Pregnant woman gives blood when she is hungry. The amount of sugar in the blood is measured.
2- 50 grams of glucose is mixed into a glass of water and glucose water is given to the pregnant woman. Blood is taken again after 1 hour.
3- If the results are compared and the blood sugar ratio is between 140-180 mg / dl, blood is taken again on the empty stomach the next day and this time, 100 grams of glucose-containing water is drunk and the blood value is checked again.
Is sugar loading harmful?
The amount of glucose given to the pregnant to understand whether gestational diabetes exists is not even the amount consumed during the day. If an undiagnosed and untreated diabetes harms the mother and baby, the effect of 50-100 grams of glucose is almost nothing.
Untreated diabetes during pregnancy
The increase in the sugar level in the blood of the pregnant person causes the blood sugar of the baby to increase. The pancreas, which wants to lower blood sugar, produces more insulin, but this time the adipose tissue in the body increases. This leads to future obesity. In addition, when the baby whose insulin level rises while in the womb, blood sugar may drop suddenly when the baby is born. This means an invitation to Type 2 diabetes. For this reason, blood glucose values should be checked during pregnancy and treatment should be applied if necessary. It is also vital to check the baby’s blood sugar after childbirth.
Treatment of diabetes in pregnancy
Diet: In order to break the insulin resistance and prevent excess weight gain, a nutrition program with 50% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 20% protein is followed.
- Exercise: Low weight, regular walks that do not tire the pregnant help balance blood sugar.
- Insulin: Insulin administration is mandatory in diabetes disorders that cannot be controlled by diet and exercise, and these drugs are avoided considering that the insulin medications taken by mouth will harm the baby and the pregnant woman is hospitalized.
