A recent paper published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India has stated that it is imperative to test all pregnant women for gestational diabetes.
About:
Meaning: Gestational diabetes only happens during pregnancy. It means the mother has high blood sugar levels, but those levels were normal before she was pregnant.
Causes: During pregnancy, the placenta makes hormones that can lead to a buildup of glucose in blood. Usually, pancreas can make enough insulin to handle that. If not, blood sugar levels will rise and can cause gestational diabetes.
Symptoms: For most women, gestational diabetes doesn't cause noticeable signs or symptoms.
Impact on mothers health: After the baby is born, gestational diabetes usually goes away, however there is risk for type 2 diabetes.
How can GD affect a baby? Babies born to women with GD may have problems with breathing and jaundice. These babies may have low blood sugar at birth. There also is an increased risk of stillbirth with GD.
Indian scenario: The Union Ministry of Health has developed national guidelines for testing, diagnosis and management of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy, and they recommend early testing at the time of contact (during the first trimester) and if the test is negative, yet another test should be done between 24-28 weeks.
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