Reasons to test for Gestational Diabetes

My doctor wants me to take the blood sugar test for diabetes. I didn’t have diabetes before I got pregnant, and there is no history of it in my family, so I really don’t understand why he wants me to take the test.

It is extremely common for pregnant women to take the test for gestational diabetes, usually at around 28 weeks into the pregnancy. For various reasons, a small proportion of pregnant women develop diabetes during pregnancy. In the vast majority of these women, diabetes is only temporary and disappears once the baby is born. The pancreas just does not cope with the increased amount of sugar in the system during pregnancy. The problem is generally evident after 28 weeks because the hormones that are produced at that time can cause insulin resistance.

The result of this type of diabetes is that the blood is full of sugar. If the situation is not remedied, then there is a risk that the baby will grow extremely large, and also that the mother will be susceptible to pre-eclampsia. The solution is to control the blood sugar of the mother. Often this can be done by eating very carefully, so as to keep the blood sugar steady. Other healthy practices such as exercise and taking good care of yourself by resting and sleeping enough and being aware of how you feel when your blood sugar is elevated, are all positive elements in managing the situation.

If you are careful and follow your doctor’s instructions in order to manage your blood sugar, then there is no reason why you should not deliver a healthy baby, should the test show that you have diabetes.

See also
Gestational Diabetes – Diet
Gestational Diabetes – Early delivery
Gestational Diabetes – Exercise
Gestational Diabetes – Insulin
Gestational Diabetes – Learning to manage
Gestational Diabetes – Management
Gestational Diabetes – Nutritional Support
Gestational Diabetes – Overweight
Gestational Diabetes – Symptoms