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Gestational Diabetes: Protect Your Pregnancy |
By:
Keefe Figgatt |
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Gestational Diabetes: Protect Your Pregnancy
Keefe Figgatt
Expectant mothers take every precaution to ensure the very best health for their babies, and themselves. They must be aware of particular medical conditions, like gestational diabetes, that can affect the health of both mother and child. Fortunately, diabetes during pregnancy can be successfully moderated and treated.
According to the American Association of Diabetes, there are two forms of diabetes: Type I and Type II. Children and adolescents are most commonly associated with Type I diabetes. Type II is prevalent in overweight adults. For some diabetics, the disease is in directly relation to certain genetic traits.
Another type of diabetes is of particular importance to pregnant women. Can a woman develop diabetes during pregnancy? Does a woman with diabetes need to take extra care during pregnancy? Is there a direct link between diabetes and pregnancy?
These are all important questions to ask a healthcare practitioner. A woman who suffers with diabetes does have particular considerations to take into account before becoming pregnant. A diabetic mother who is carrying a child must appreciate the risks associated with having the disease; she needs to treat her pregnancy with a great deal of discipline.
The Third Type of Diabetes?
In addition to Type I and Type II diabetes, women who wish to become pregnant should be aware of another potential cause of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a condition developed during the late stages of pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes disappears following birth, the mother faces a higher probability of acquiring Type II diabetes later in life.
Indeed, there is a direct link between diabetes and pregnancy, and expectant mothers must be very careful about this condition. Gestational diabetes causes the body to resist the assimilation of insulation, making this condition similar to Type II diabetes. Symptoms, however, are a bit different than those presented by typical Type II diabetics.
Women who develop gestational diabetes may notice unusually high weight gain. This excess weight is caused by high levels of glucose in the blood and, as a result, an increase in fetal urination. It's important for expectant mothers to be tested during the 24th to 28th weeks of gestation to ensure that they have not acquired gestational diabetes.
Only 2 percent to 3 percent of women acquire gestational diabetes, making the conditional relatively rare. Still, there are certain factors that can increase the risk:
* Age (older women face an increased risk)
* Being overweight
* Family history of Type II diabetes
* Ethnicity
* Gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
* Previous children born weighing nine pounds or more
If you show one or more of these potential risks, speak with your doctor about the possibility of acquiring gestational diabetes.
Studies suggest that as many as 40 percent of women suffering gestational diabetes went on to develop Type II diabetes 5 to 10 years after pregnancy. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions carefully to avoid contracting Type II diabetes later in life. While many Type II diabetics lead normal lives, it's best to avoid it.
Gestational diabetes poses certain risks to expectant mothers, but it can be controlled. Speak with your obstetrician or healthcare provider to learn more about the causes, preventions and treatments. It's the best way to ensure your own wellness, and the health of your baby.
Author Keefe Figgatt writes for several popular web sites, on http://rawboned.com/ healthy aging and http://byvak.com/ healthy body themes. Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=25603&b=79 unique content version of this same article.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article61253.html |
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