Gestational diabetes: features of diabetes mellitus during pregnancy

Elevated blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, occurs for a variety of reasons. Normally, the sugar level should not be higher than 5.5 mmol/l. The severity of hyperglycemia is determined by two main factors: the total amount of glucose in the blood and the rate at which it increases. In medical practice, the pathological condition in question is classified according to two criteria: fasting hyperglycemia and afternoon hyperglycemia.

Glucose is necessary for the cells of the human body, but if its level exceeds the norm, this can lead to irreversible consequences. The person himself may not notice the symptoms of this condition for a long time if it is mild. If the sugar level is significantly elevated, characteristic signs appear that are important to recognize in time and consult a doctor. In our clinic you can always get advice from competent specialists, take the necessary tests and undergo a course of treatment.

Causes of high blood sugar

High blood sugar may be associated with certain diseases:

• diabetes mellitus and other endocrine pathologies;
• liver diseases;
• dysfunction of the pancreas;
• severe infectious diseases;
• obesity.

Diabetes mellitus is considered the most common cause of hyperglycemia, which is long-lasting and negatively affects almost all internal organs and systems of the body.

Factors that contribute to hyperglycemia that are not associated with pathologies of the body are also identified:

• overeating, predominance of simple carbohydrates in the diet;
• stress;
• severe premenstrual syndrome in women;
• alcohol abuse;
• hereditary predisposition.

Causes of Gestational Diabetes

The exact mechanism of the disease is still not completely clear.
Doctors are inclined to believe that the hormones responsible for the proper development of the fetus block the production of insulin, which leads to disruption of carbohydrate metabolism. During pregnancy, more glucose is required for both the woman and the baby. The body compensates for this need by suppressing insulin production. There are other possible causes of gestational diabetes, such as autoimmune diseases that destroy the pancreas. In principle, any pancreatic pathology can increase the risk of diabetes during pregnancy.

Associated symptoms

A pronounced increase in blood sugar levels manifests itself with characteristic symptoms, which are especially clearly visible in patients with diabetes:

• constant thirst and dry mouth;
• increased urge to urinate;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• increased appetite, weight gain or sudden weight loss (this symptom is typical mainly for patients with type 1 diabetes);
• skin itching, furunculosis, prolonged wound healing;
• increased blood pressure due to impaired renal function;
• increased irritability;
• drowsiness;
• apathetic state;
• difficulty concentrating;
• decreased vision;
• susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Having noticed such manifestations in yourself, you may suspect hyperglycemia, but only a qualified doctor will make an accurate diagnosis. In our clinic you can undergo a full range of examinations to identify acute and chronic diseases. An experienced endocrinologist will develop effective treatment tactics to eliminate pathological symptoms and return you to good health.

Features of the course in girls

Statistics show that women are much more likely to suffer from the manifestations of pathology.
This especially applies to the second type of disease. This is due to the fact that the weaker sex has more adipose tissue, and, on the contrary, less muscle mass than men. The fact is that adipose tissue does not absorb insulin and does not utilize glucose well. Girls are also more susceptible to stress, which provokes the release of steroid hormones and increased glucose levels. A particular danger in the development of pathology is the love of sweets. Frequently eating cakes and pastries leads to an increase in fat. This leads to activation of the disease in women. Girls also develop another type of pathology - gestational. But we'll talk about it later.

Diagnostics in our clinic

Diagnosis of hyperglycemia includes taking a medical history, analyzing clinical symptoms and a number of laboratory tests. A blood sugar test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. In some cases, it becomes necessary to repeat the analysis after a few days to exclude possible stress factors.

In modern medicine, several methods of testing blood for sugar are used:

• rapid test for determining the approximate glucose concentration - can be carried out at home, but does not provide one hundred percent accuracy;
• analysis for glycated hemoglobin - allows you to determine the average glucose level over a certain period of time (1-3 months);
• Glucose tolerance test is a comprehensive study that involves taking blood from a finger prick four times over two hours (on an empty stomach and after taking glucose).

In a healthy person, the glucose level is 3.5-5.5 mmol per liter of blood. An indicator of 6 mmol is considered a prediabetic state. If the glucose concentration exceeds this value, the doctor has reason to diagnose diabetes mellitus.

When performing a glucose tolerance test, a result of up to 7.9 mmol/l is considered as normal. Diabetes mellitus is indicated by a value of over 11 mmol per liter.

Preventing Gestational Diabetes

Unfortunately, there are no 100% effective measures that would protect against this disease.
But the more useful habits a woman develops before pregnancy, the easier pregnancy and childbirth will be:

• From the first days of pregnancy, eat healthy foods: choose foods high in fiber and low in fat. Focus on vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety and watch portion sizes.
• Stay active. Try to devote 30 minutes to sports every day. Take daily walks, ride a bike, or go swimming.
• Plan your pregnancy at a healthy weight and don't gain more than recommended. Excessively rapid weight gain can increase the risk of gestational diabetes.

Although there is no universal protection against GDM, you can reduce your risk of developing it through a healthy lifestyle. The most important thing is to detect the problem in time and prevent it from developing.

Principles of treatment

If you have high blood sugar, you will need treatment to avoid life-threatening conditions. The complex of therapeutic measures includes:

• adherence to the principles of proper nutrition;
• regular monitoring of blood sugar levels - for this you can purchase a special device for home use - a glucometer. It is recommended to carry out the test several times a day. Urgent consultation with an endocrinologist is required if sugar levels increase repeatedly over a short period;
• regular physical activity;
• weight normalization;
• regular monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol levels;
• taking medications to reduce blood glucose concentrations (insulin secretagogues, alpha-glucosiade inhibitors, etc.).

Treatment tactics are always selected individually depending on the reasons that led to the increase in blood sugar.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes

• Age under 18 and over 30 years old.
• Unbalanced diet with a lot of fast carbohydrates.
• Bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse).
• Overweight and obesity. Excess weight obviously implies a violation of metabolic processes.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Previous gestational diabetes or prediabetes. The tendency to diseases of this series does not disappear over time.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome.
• A close relative has diabetes. The risk of gestational diabetes increases twofold or more if close relatives have any form of diabetes.
• Previous birth of a child over 4 kg or a large fetus during the current pregnancy.
• Race. Caucasians have the lowest risk of developing gestational diabetes, and black women are most likely to suffer from this problem.

Unfortunately, GDM can develop in a completely healthy woman without risk factors, so you need to visit a doctor and not skip recommended screenings.

How to protect yourself from diabetes

Prevention of the development of increased glucose production is quite simple. You need to follow a few tips:

• Lead an active lifestyle. If you have a sedentary job, take long walks in the evenings. Give up weekends spent on the couch watching TV. This is especially true for overweight people.
• Proper nutrition. Skip sweet baked goods in favor of whole grain ones. Add light protein foods to your diet, try not to eat foods with complex carbohydrates. Convenience foods and fatty foods are your main enemies.
• Avoid stress. Learn to protect yourself from factors leading to grief and worry. Learn to avoid negative emotions and don't allow yourself to get angry too often.
• Monitor your blood pressure closely. Frequent pressure changes lead to weakening of blood vessels and the entire body.
• Find out if you are predisposed to this disease in advance using DNA testing.

Skin manifestations

The course of the disease rarely affects the condition of the skin. However, sometimes changes are observed that indicate problems with glucose production. It is worth paying attention to:

• Peeling and dry skin that were not noticed before.
• Darkening of folds. This is typical for type 2 diabetes.
• Premature aging of the skin. This is due to the fact that pathology can cause aging of the entire organism. This is reflected very strongly on the skin.

Such changes occur very slowly and most people simply do not pay attention to them. It's also worth remembering that these signs may indicate other health problems. It is worth getting tested if you find yourself with similar symptoms. This will help determine the source of the symptoms and eliminate it.

Signs in women over 30

At this age, as a rule, type 1 develops, a rather severe autoimmune disease.
The development and manifestation of the disease occurs rapidly and most often does not depend on the lifestyle of the sick person. This type is considered hereditary. Its development is almost impossible to prevent. Acute symptoms and early signs for this type of disease:

• nausea and vomiting,
• numbness of the limbs,
• smell of acetone from the mouth,
• thirst and hunger.

If you have these signs, you should not hesitate to get tested in the laboratory. However, you can check your sugar level with a home glucometer. However, do not forget that such a check will not give you the complete picture.

Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, do not delay consulting your doctor. You will be prescribed a special diet and treatment that will help eliminate the severe course of the disease and protect you from disability.

Signs in women over 50

Typically, menopause begins at age 50 or older. It disrupts the metabolism in the body, provokes obesity and problems with the cardiovascular system. Also, changes in hormones lead to irritability and stress, which negatively affects the immune system.

This period of life is characterized by the development of type 2. It can be hidden, and you will not understand what signs may indicate the development of the disease. It is important to undergo timely examinations and tests to identify possible problems. This especially applies to those whose parents and other relatives suffered from this disease.

Consequences of diabetes in women

Without timely treatment, you risk getting serious complications, getting rid of which will be extremely difficult. The main dangers plaguing diabetics who do not adhere to doctor’s recommendations are:

1. Constant swelling. Persistent swelling throughout the body is a consequence of excessive fluid retention in the body.
2. Trophic ulcers. They are characteristic of a long course of the disease, which did not respond to appropriate treatment.
3. Gangrene. Damage to the blood vessels of the extremities results in amputation. This outcome is typical for an advanced form that has been going on for many years.
4. Coma. An extremely rare consequence of a severe form of the disease. This state is preceded by clouding of consciousness and loss of a sense of reality.