All About Gestational Diabetes: Risk Factors, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

It’s National Diabetes Month, and Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and the team at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin want to take this opportunity to tell you more about gestational diabetes.

This condition occurs during pregnancy, and often goes away on its own after delivery. However, gestational diabetes creates risks for expectant mothers and developing fetuses. 

The Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin team offers comprehensive care for gestational diabetes and other pregnancy complications from locations in Odessa and Midland, Texas. Here’s what we want you to know about gestational diabetes, including risks, symptoms, prevention strategies, and treatment options.

Understanding gestational diabetes

Even if you’ve never had a problem with diabetes before gestational diabetes may affect you during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes occurs due to hormone changes during your pregnancy. These changes may cause you to develop insulin resistance. Your body needs to use insulin in order to extract energy from the sugar in your bloodstream. And, if your cells can’t use insulin to get that energy, your blood sugar levels can rise to out-of-control levels.

You’re at heightened risk of gestational diabetes if you have a higher body fat percentage, but average-weight people can also develop this condition. 

Your risk also goes up if you have prediabetes, high blood pressure, or some hormone disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A family history of this condition, and even your ethnicity, give other clues about your risk level.

Gestational diabetes poses risks for both the person carrying the pregnancy and the developing fetus, including preeclampsia and premature delivery. High birth weight is another common result of gestational diabetes. And, after birth, your child may continue to deal with complications like low blood glucose levels or respiratory issues.

Preventing and treating gestational diabetes

Your gestational diabetes symptoms may include frequent yeast infections, increased urination and thirst, and blurred vision, as well as weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Fatigue is another common symptom of gestational diabetes. You don’t need those issues on top of the physical and psychological stresses of pregnancy!

And, even if you don’t experience symptoms related to gestational diabetes, the risks for you and your growing child remain. So, it makes sense to take steps to prevent gestational diabetes. That includes healthy lifestyle changes to increase activity and lose weight, as well as medical screening for this condition.

At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, Dr. Bridges recommends screening for gestational diabetes for all of her pregnant patients. Normal-risk patients are screened between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. If you’re at elevated risk, you might need testing sooner, potentially even at your first prenatal appointment.

If you do develop gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, Dr. Bridges offers treatment and ongoing support. This may include blood sugar monitoring, lifestyle changes, and medication management.

With the right education, prevention, and treatment, you can reduce your risk of gestational diabetes, or reduce the negative complications this condition can pose for mother and child.

For expert pregnancy and OB/GYN support, including gestational diabetes testing, prevention support, and treatment, contact Dr. Bridges at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin. Schedule your first appointment over the phone, or request an appointment online today.