- Timely detection and appropriate treatment reduce the risks associated with gestational diabetes by up to 50%.
- It is associated with other complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and impaired fetal growth.
- The National Institute of Perinatology develops clinical research to reduce the incidence of this disease.
Pregnancy is a wonderful stage for any woman, although proper care should always prevail. Not only is the development of the product at risk, but also the well-being of the woman. In fact, one of the most common risks is gestational diabetes but the fact that it is frequent does not mean that it is normal.
Regarding this issue, up to three out of every 10 pregnant women who attend the National Institute of Perinatology (INPer) “Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” they can develop gestational diabetes mellitus, informed the coordinator of the Department of Endocrinology of this institute, Nayeli Martínez Cruz.
The specialist pointed out that the INPer develops research programs to reduce the incidence of this disease and establish interventions that reduce associated perinatal risks.
It has been found that detection in the first trimester, care and the practice of healthy habits decrease between 30 and 50 percent the number of cases of diabetes in pregnancy and avoid complications for the mother and her daughter or son.
It is an asymptomatic condition, so it is only detected by screening between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy. It consists of administering an oral glucose load followed by blood glucose measurement at different times.
Main complications caused by gestational diabetes
Diabetes during pregnancy can cause complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, premature rupture of the membrane, increased amount of amniotic fluid or fetal growth disorders. After childbirth, the woman can remain with glucose disturbances such as prediabetes or overt diabetes.
The coordinator of the Department of Endocrinology of INPer indicated that the newborn of a mother who attended with gestational diabetes may have inadequate weight, develop neonatal hypoglycemia (decreased glucose levels) and have respiratory problems at birth.
Women with gestational diabetes require greater medical surveillance during and after delivery, compared to those with a normal pregnancy. This, accompanied by the need to measure blood glucose levels before and after eating food.
Pregnant patients with gestational diabetes receive nutritional care to control glucose levels and, if necessary, are prescribed oral drugs such as metformin and insulin.
How can gestational diabetes be prevented?
He considered that the most effective form of prevention is to plan the pregnancy to arrive at the better health conditions, body weight and nutrition, and ensures adequate weight gain during pregnancy.
“Women who start pregnancy with a normal weight can gain between 12 and 16 kilos during the nine months of gestation, and those who start with excess weight as obesity, a gain between five and nine kilograms is suggested.”
The coordinator of the Department of Endocrinology reported that the gestational diabetes It occurs when there is elevation of blood glucose, caused by hormonal and metabolic changes in pregnancy in women with additional risk factors.
This disease occurs mostly in women over 30 years of age, with overweight and obesity before pregnancy, prediabetes, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus pregnancy in a previous pregnancy or a family history of first-degree diabetes.
After delivery, 10 percent of women will remain with diabetes while the remaining 90 percent will return to normal glucose levels, so it is important to perform new glucose tests within the first three months after delivery to detect those women who will need to maintain care after delivery.
Also read:
The genetic mutation that causes gestational diabetes has been identified
Nuevo León, first national place in cases of gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects 1 in 7 births in the world