Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.
It can occur at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second half.
It occurs if your body cannot produce enough insulin a hormone that helps control blood sugar levelsto meet the extra needs in pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can cause problems for you and your baby during and after birth. But the risk of these problems happening can be reduced if it's detected and well managed.
Any woman can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, but you're at an increased risk if:
If any of these apply to you, you should be offered screening for gestational diabetes during your pregnancy.
Most women with gestational diabetes have otherwise normal pregnancies with healthy babies.
However, gestational diabetes can cause problems such as:
Having gestational diabetes also means you're at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
During your first antenatal appointment at around weeks 8 to 12 of your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will ask you some questions to determine whether you're at an increased risk of gestational diabetes.
If you have one or more risk factors for gestational diabetes see Who's at risk , above you should be offered a screening test.
The screening test used is called an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which takes about two hours.
It involves having a blood test taken in the morning when you've had nothing to eat or drinkovernight (you can usually drink water, but check with the hospital if you're unsure).You're then given a glucose drink.
After resting for two hours, another blood sample is takento see how your body is dealing with the glucose.
The OGTT is done when you're between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant.If you've had gestational diabetes before, you'll be offered an OGTT earlier in pregnancy soon after your booking visit, and another OGTT at 24 to 28 weeks if the first test is normal.
Alternatively, it may be suggested that you start testing your blood sugar yourself using a finger-pricking device in the same way as you did during your previous episode of gestational diabetes.
In women with gestational diabetes, the chances of having problems with the pregnancy can be reduced by controlling blood sugar levels.
You'll be given a blood sugar testing kit so you can monitor the effects of treatment.
Blood sugar levels can be reduced by changes in diet and exercise. But the majority of women will need medication as wellif changes in diet and exercise don't reduce blood sugar enough. This may be tablets or insulin injections.
You'll also be more closely monitored during your pregnancy and birth to check for any potential problems.
If you have gestational diabetes, it's best to give birth before 41 weeks. Induction of labour or a caesarean section may be recommended if labour doesn't start naturally by this time.
Earlier delivery may be recommended if there are concerns about your or your baby's health or if your blood sugar levels haven't been well controlled.
But women who've had it are more likely to develop:
You should have a blood test to check for diabetes 6 to 13 weeks after giving birth, and every year thereafter if the result is normal.
See your GP if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst, needing to pee more often than usual, anda dry mouth don't wait until your next test.
You should have the tests even if you feel well, as many people with diabetes don't have any symptoms.
You'll also be advised about things you can do to reduce your risk of developing diabetes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
Some research has suggested that babies of mothers who had gestational diabetes may be more likely to develop diabetes or become obese later in life.
If you've had gestational diabetes before and you're planning to get pregnant, make sure you get checked for diabetes. Your GP can arrange this.
If you do have diabetes, you should be referred to a diabetes pre-conception clinic for support to ensure your condition is well controlled before you get pregnant.
If tests show you don't have diabetes, you'll be offered screening earlier in pregnancy soon after your booking visit, and a repeat screening test at 24 to 28 weeks if the first test is normal.
Alternatively, it may be suggested that you start testing your blood glucose yourself using a finger-pricking device in the same way as you did during your previous gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. It can occur at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second half.
Gestational diabetes doesn't usually cause any symptoms. Most cases are only picked up when your blood sugar level is tested during screening for gestational diabetes. Some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar level gets too high (hyperglycaemia)
If you have gestational diabetes, the chances of having problems with the pregnancy can be reduced by controlling your blood sugar (glucose) levels. You'll also need to be more closely monitored during pregnancy and labour to check if treatment is working and to check for any problems.
Ugonjwa wa kisukari wa mimba ni kiwango cha juu cha sukari ya damu ambayo huanza wakati wa ujauzito na kwa kawaida hutoweka baada ya kuzaa. Inaweza kutokea katika hatua yoyote ya ujauzito, lakini ni ya kawaida zaidi katika nusu ya pili. Inasababishwa na mwili wako kutokuwa na uwezo wa kutengeneza insulini ya kutosha, ambayo ni homoni inayosaidia kudhibiti kiwango cha sukari ya damu ili kukidhi mahitaji ya ziada ya ujauzito. Ugonjwa wa kisukari wa mimba unaweza kusababisha matatizo kwa wewe na mtoto wako wakati wa kuzaliwa na baada ya kuzaliwa. Lakini hatari ya matatizo haya kutokea inaweza kupunguzwa ikiwa itagunduliwa na kusimamiwa vizuri. Wanawake wanaweza kupata ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito wakati wa ujauzito, lakini kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa kuambukizwa ikiwa unafanya uchunguzi wa ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito wakati wa ujauzito. Wanawake wengi walio na ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito huwa na mimba za kawaida na watoto wenye afya. Hata hivyo, ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito unaweza kusababisha matatizo kama vile: Kuwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito pia inamaanisha una hatari kubwa ya kuendeleza ugonjwa wa kisukari wa aina ya 2 katika siku zijazo. Wakati wa mkutano wako wa kwanza wa kabla ya kuzaliwa, karibu wiki 8 hadi 12 za ujauzito wako, mama yako au daktari wako atakuuliza maswali kadhaa ili kuamua ikiwa una hatari ya kuongezeka kwa ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito. Ikiwa una moja au zaidi ya sababu za hatari ya ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito, angalia Nani yuko katika hatari ya ugonjwa wa kisukari, hapo juu unapaswa kupewa mtihani wa uchunguzi. Mtihani wa uchunguzi unaoitwa Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) unachukua muda wa saa mbili. Utafiti wa damu unafanywa asubuhi wakati haujala au kunywa chochote (kwa kawaida unaweza kunywa maji, lakini angalia na hospitali ikiwa hauna uhakika). Baada ya kupumzika kwa masaa mawili, sampuli nyingine ya damu inachukuliwa ili kuona jinsi mwili wako unavyoshughulika na glukosi. OGTT ni mtihani wa kwanza wa ujauzito wa wiki 24-28 na ikiwa umekuwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito hapo awali, utapewa OGTT mapema katika ujauzito, na OGTT nyingine katika wiki 24-28 ikiwa mtihani wa kwanza ni wa kawaida. Kwa mfano, unaweza kuanza kupima sukari yako ya damu mwenyewe kwa kutumia kifaa cha kuchachua kidole, kama ulivyofanya wakati wa kipindi chako cha awali cha ugonjwa wa kisukari. Kwa wanawake walio na ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito, uwezekano wa kuwa na matatizo ya ujauzito unaweza kupunguzwa kwa kudhibiti viwango vya sukari ya damu. Utachukuliwa kit cha kupima sukari ya damu ili uweze kufuatilia athari za matibabu. Kiwango cha sukari katika damu chaweza kupunguzwa kwa kubadilisha chakula na kufanya mazoezi. Lakini wanawake wengi watahitaji dawa kama mabadiliko ya maisha katika lishe na mazoezi si kupunguza sukari ya damu ya kutosha. Hii inaweza kuwa vidonge au sindano za insulini. Pia utafuatwa kwa karibu zaidi wakati wa ujauzito wako na kuzaliwa ili kuangalia matatizo yoyote yanayowezekana. Ikiwa una ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito, ni bora kuzaa kabla ya wiki ya 41. Kuchochea uchungu au upasuaji wa upasuaji wa kaisari waweza kupendekezwa ikiwa uchungu hautaanza kwa kawaida kufikia wakati huu. Utoaji wa mapema unaweza kupendekezwa ikiwa kuna wasiwasi juu ya afya yako au ya mtoto wako au ikiwa viwango vyako vya sukari ya damu havijaongozwa vizuri. Kwa wanawake ambao wamepata ugonjwa wa kisukari, ni muhimu kufanya uchunguzi wa damu kwa ajili ya ugonjwa wa kisukari wiki 6 hadi 13 baada ya kuzaa, na kila mwaka baada ya hapo ikiwa matokeo ni ya kawaida. Kwa mfano, ikiwa una dalili za sukari ya juu ya damu, kama vile kiu, haja ya kuoga mara nyingi kuliko kawaida, na kinywa kavu, usisubiri hadi mtihani wako ujao. Utafanya uchunguzi huo hata kama unajisikia vizuri, kwa kuwa watu wengi wenye ugonjwa wa kisukari hawana dalili zozote. Pia utaambiwa juu ya mambo unayoweza kufanya ili kupunguza hatari ya kuambukizwa ugonjwa wa kisukari, kama vile kudumisha uzito wa afya, kula chakula cha usawa na kufanya mazoezi mara kwa mara. Utafiti fulani umeonyesha kwamba watoto wa akina mama walio na ugonjwa wa kisukari wa mimba huenda wakawa na uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kupatwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari au kuwa wanene kupita kiasi baadaye maishani. Ikiwa umekuwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito na unapanga kupata mimba, hakikisha unachunguzwa kwa ugonjwa wa kisukari. Daktari wako wa kawaida anaweza kupanga hili. Ikiwa una ugonjwa wa kisukari, unapaswa kuelekezwa kwa kliniki ya kabla ya mimba ya kisukari ili kuhakikisha hali yako inadhibitiwa vizuri kabla ya kupata mimba. Ikiwa uchunguzi unaonyesha kwamba hauna ugonjwa wa kisukari, utapewa uchunguzi wa mapema wa ujauzito mara tu baada ya ziara yako ya uhifadhi, na jaribio la uchunguzi la mara ya pili katika wiki 24-28 ikiwa mtihani wa kwanza ni wa kawaida. Kwa mfano, unaweza kuanza kupima sukari yako ya damu mwenyewe kwa kutumia kifaa cha kuchachua kidole kama ulivyofanya wakati wa ugonjwa wako wa kisukari wa ujauzito. Ugonjwa wa kisukari wa mimba ni kiwango cha juu cha sukari ya damu ambayo huanza wakati wa ujauzito na kwa kawaida hutoweka baada ya kuzaa. Inaweza kutokea katika hatua yoyote ya ujauzito, lakini ni ya kawaida zaidi katika nusu ya pili. Kwa kawaida ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito hausababishi dalili zozote. Kwa kawaida, ugonjwa huu huonekana tu wakati kiwango cha sukari ya damu kinapochunguzwa kwa ajili ya ugonjwa wa kisukari. Wanawake wanaweza kuwa na dalili kama kiwango cha sukari ya damu yao inakuwa juu sana (hyperglycemia) Ikiwa una ugonjwa wa kisukari wa ujauzito, uwezekano wa kuwa na matatizo na ujauzito unaweza kupunguzwa kwa kudhibiti viwango vya sukari ya damu yako. Pia unahitaji kufuatiliwa kwa karibu wakati wa ujauzito na kuzaa ili kuangalia kama matibabu yanafanya kazi na kuangalia kwa matatizo yoyote.