Have You Gestational Diabetes –Watch the Symptoms!
The period of gestation or pregnancy as it is commonly known by, is a period that involves numerous psychological and physiological changes. There is a need to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar levels and various other health parameters.

One of the conditions that may affect pregnant women is gestational diabetes. Although diabetes is normally due to either insufficient insulin or lack of sensitivity to insulin, pregnancy is a period that may bring about a temporary rise in blood sugar levels, over and above normal. Gestational diabetes may be damaging to the health of the fetus if the condition is not properly monitored and treated. It may affect women who have not suffered from diabetes during their lifetime or are not susceptible to the condition.

 It is however, a temporary condition and blood sugar levels come back to normal after the delivery.

On an average, the condition may affect one in 25 women, especially those who are above the age of thirty and are overweight. The main factor that leads to gestational diabetes is the secretion of specific hormones from the placenta. The exact reason why certain women are susceptible to these hormones is not very clear.

One of the symptoms of gestational diabetes is extreme hunger and thirst. An increase in appetite and thirst is usually a normal symptom of gestation so the occurrence of such a symptom may be ignored. Although gestational diabetes usually takes place in the last trimester, it may also take place or start during the first two trimesters.

Mild gestational diabetes can be controlled by eating the right type of foods and getting sufficient exercise. On the other hand, severe forms of gestational diabetes may require daily blood sugar level checks and insulin injections. There is also an attendant risk of either of the two conditions of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.

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