Even if the expectant mother does not have blood sugar before pregnancy, her blood sugar levels may rise because the body's insulin response to food may be impaired during pregnancy. This is an indication that the mother has gestational diabetes. The test performed with sugar and water to check whether the expectant mother has gestational diabetes is called sugar loading test. In fact, although it is known as the sugar "loading" test, we cannot actually talk about a real loading because, for example, the amount of glucose (sugar) in a 50 g test is approximately the same as a large banana. In other words, this test does not actually give the expectant mother any extra sugar, but rather investigates whether her body can respond properly to the foods she encounters in daily life. When trying to determine gestational diabetes using only values such as fasting and postprandial blood sugar, approximately 30-35% of all cases are missed, which is not an acceptable rate. The sugar test is performed between the 22nd, 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.
Especially pregnant women with a family history of diabetes, those who have had diabetes in previous pregnancies, those who have had a miscarriage before, and those who were obese before pregnancy must be followed up under the supervision of a doctor. Although these are risk factors for the development of gestational diabetes, this test is mandatory for pregnant women who have no such history in our country because our country is among the top five countries in the world in terms of the frequency of diabetes; In other words, the fact that we live in these lands with this diet means that we are at risk in itself, and therefore it is not possible for us to avoid screening our pregnant women for sugar.
How is a Sugar Test Done?
How is a Sugar Test Done? strong>
As we mentioned before, this test should be performed on expectant mothers between the 22-24th and 28th weeks of their pregnancy. First, the mother is given 50 g of glucose. One hour later, the glucose level in the blood is measured. If the resulting glucose level is below 135 mg, it is revealed that the expectant mother does not have gestational diabetes.
When a value above this value occurs, the glucose test applied to the mother is repeated for 3 hours. After this last test, the expectant mother will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It is clearly demonstrated that p is not the case. The expectant mother should not eat or drink anything during the sugar test. This is very important for the accuracy of the result of the test.
The same test can also be done with 75 g of glucose in one step.
Who are the Expectant Mothers with Gestational Diabetes and Risk Factor?
– People who have had a miscarriage before
– People who have given birth to a baby weighing more than 4 kilos
– People who have had diabetes in their previous pregnancy
– Expectant mothers who were overweight before pregnancy and over the age of 35
– People with a family history of diabetes
– Expectant mothers who gained a lot of weight during pregnancy
– Increase in amniotic fluid during pregnancy
- There is a high probability of developing gestational diabetes in expectant mothers who experience situations such as the death of the baby in the womb.
However, as we mentioned before, even if none of these situations exist, our country has diabetes. It is stated in all health practice guidelines that screening for diabetes during pregnancy is mandatory in our country, as it is considered a very risky region for diabetes.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetes during Pregnancy?
Diabetes during pregnancy. Some symptoms experienced by expectant mothers experiencing the disease:
– Feeling of thirst
– Weight loss
– Desire to eat too much
– Frequent urination
– Fatigue
– Weakness
These symptoms are not seen in all pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Therefore, a sugar test must be done to get the definitive result of whether there is diabetes in pregnancy.
What are the risks of Gestational Diabetes for the Health of the Expectant Mother and the Baby?
A mother with gestational diabetes. The candidate has some risky conditions compared to other pregnant women.
These are;
– Pregnancy poisoning
– High blood pressure
< These are problems such as p>– Premature birth– Miscarriage
and are more common in expectant mothers with gestational diabetes. Therefore, the expectant mother should have a sugar loading test and be treated accordingly.
It can be seen in the babies of expectant mothers with diabetes. Some risks to know are;
– The baby has problems in the respiratory tract due to the problem in the lungs
– The baby is too big
– The baby is too big being small
– Risk of jaundice in the baby after birth
– Risk of heart diseases in later periods
– Kidney anomalies
– Anomalies occurring in the brain
– Ear anomalies
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
Treatment methods that can be applied to expectant mothers who developed diabetes during pregnancy;
– Diet
– Exercise practice
– Insulin
The dietician and the doctor prepare a suitable diet and nutrition program for the expectant mother. Along with this diet, the expectant mother should also do the exercises recommended by the doctor. These exercises can be swimming and walking. If blood sugar is not controlled with all these, the negative effects that may occur can be prevented by starting insulin treatment.
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