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06/18/06
12:44 PM
"I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I am overweight as well. What are my chances that the diabetes will not go away after delivery? My fasting levels are too high so I do have insulin for night time, although after balanced meals my levels are just fine. What does that mean? Am I at a greater risk for having diabetes after delivery because I need insulin to keep my levels below 95 in the morning? Also, will I most likely deliver early because of this? "
Asked By:
anne tracy
Category:
Gestational Diabetes
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Expert Answers (1)
06/18/06
12:44 PM
Anne,
Most cases of true gestational diabetes do go away after delivery. However, if your fasting blood sugar result from your three hour glucose tolerance test was higher than the normal range, you may already have diabetes or pre-diabetes. The fact that you need insulin during pregnancy does increase your risk of developing diabetes. Numbers vary, but most people with gestational diabetes face a 20% to 50%risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5-10 years . If you are a member of a particular ethnic group, especially African American, Hispanic/Latina, Southeast Asian and Indian, your risk is even higher. Also, if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, your risk is higher. There are lifestyle choices you can make to lower your risk, including exercising for 30 min 5 days per week, eating a diet low in saturated fat and calories, and achieving and maintaining a health body weight.
Ideally all pregnancies will be full term to allow the baby the best chance at a healthy life. Gestational diabetes can cause some complications that may result in an early delivery of the baby. Mothers with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for preeclampsia, or a sudden spike in blood pressure. When this condition happens, the only way to treat the problem and lower the blood pressure is to deliver the baby. Also, there may be a complication called Polyhydramnios, where too much amniotic fluid builds up in the uterus. If this complication happens, the baby may be born earlier than desired. These conditions are not common but it is important to know that they exist. All the hard work you are doing to keep your blood sugars in a normal range will help you to have a healthy pregnancy and prevent these and other complications.
The following links will provide more detailed information.
http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/FS_Post-GDM.pdf
Deborah Greenwood, R APRN,BC-ADM, MEd, CDE
Financial Disclosure
Most cases of true gestational diabetes do go away after delivery. However, if your fasting blood sugar result from your three hour glucose tolerance test was higher than the normal range, you may already have diabetes or pre-diabetes. The fact that you need insulin during pregnancy does increase your risk of developing diabetes. Numbers vary, but most people with gestational diabetes face a 20% to 50%risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5-10 years . If you are a member of a particular ethnic group, especially African American, Hispanic/Latina, Southeast Asian and Indian, your risk is even higher. Also, if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, your risk is higher. There are lifestyle choices you can make to lower your risk, including exercising for 30 min 5 days per week, eating a diet low in saturated fat and calories, and achieving and maintaining a health body weight.
Ideally all pregnancies will be full term to allow the baby the best chance at a healthy life. Gestational diabetes can cause some complications that may result in an early delivery of the baby. Mothers with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for preeclampsia, or a sudden spike in blood pressure. When this condition happens, the only way to treat the problem and lower the blood pressure is to deliver the baby. Also, there may be a complication called Polyhydramnios, where too much amniotic fluid builds up in the uterus. If this complication happens, the baby may be born earlier than desired. These conditions are not common but it is important to know that they exist. All the hard work you are doing to keep your blood sugars in a normal range will help you to have a healthy pregnancy and prevent these and other complications.
The following links will provide more detailed information.
http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/FS_Post-GDM.pdf
Deborah Greenwood, R APRN,BC-ADM, MEd, CDE
Financial Disclosure
Answered By:
Deborah Greenwood
Accreditations: MEd, CNS, BC-ADM, CDE
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