Know About The Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects around 4 % of women during gestation (pregnancy period). It is generally a temporary condition which mostly vanishes after the pregnancy. But, the baby has a higher chance of having Type I diabetes later on. Percentage wise it is only 2 to 3 % of the diabetic population. However, the babies born to diabetic parents have 20 to 25 % chances of having diabetes later-on in life.

Most of the women don't experience any signs or symptoms of gestational diabetes. So, they are usually surprised when they are diagnosed with the same. When they do occur, the signs and symptoms include:

1) Excessive thirst
2) Increased urination
3) Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
4) Frequent infections including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
5) Fatigue, Nausea and vomiting
6) Blurred vision

Beyond these, gestational diabetes often has no symptoms. However, having these symptoms does not mean that you are suffering from gestational diabetes. Pregnancy, in fact causes most women to have to urinate more often and to feel more hungry, so having these symptoms does not always mean that you are one of the sufferers. Only after being tested for Gestational Diabetes, you can be sure that you have the disease or not. However, the tests are important because high blood sugar can cause problems for both the mother and the baby.

Sometimes, a pregnant woman is at greater risk than others. Usually, all women are screened for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation, using a glucose tolerance test. This testing should be done during the first trimester and then again during the second and third trimesters for women having greater risk factors, even if the first test is negative.

In fact, sometimes, a pregnant woman who has symptoms may have been having another type of diabetes without knowing about it.


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