What is gestational diabetes and how will I be tested for it?

The Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) is to diagnose Gestational Diabetes (GD). Since your sugar level is high, you should control your sugar intake in your daily diet using the machine. Doctor will advise you on the types of diets needed if you have GD. I have quite a number of friends developed GD and follow a very strict diets e.g. brown rice intake, eliminate all sugary food. After delivered the baby, their sugar level returned to the normal stage. GD must be carefully managed, as there are complications that may affect your baby If you have gestational diabetes, your baby may be at increased risk of: 1. Excessive birth weight. Extra glucose in your bloodstream crosses the placenta, which triggers your baby's pancreas to make extra insulin. This can cause your baby to grow too large (macrosomia). Very large babies — those that weigh 9 pounds or more — are more likely to become wedged in the birth canal, sustain birth injuries or require a C-section birth. 2. Early (preterm) birth and respiratory distress syndrome. A mother's high blood sugar may increase her risk of early labor and delivering her baby before its due date. Or her doctor may recommend early delivery because the baby is large. 3. Babies born early may experience respiratory distress syndrome — a condition that makes breathing difficult. Babies with this syndrome may need help breathing until their lungs mature and become stronger. Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes may experience respiratory distress syndrome even if they're not born early. 4. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Sometimes babies of mothers with gestational diabetes develop low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) shortly after birth because their own insulin production is high. Severe episodes of hypoglycemia may provoke seizures in the baby. Prompt feedings and sometimes an intravenous glucose solution can return the baby's blood sugar level to normal. 5. Type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies of mothers who have gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. Untreated gestational diabetes can result in a baby's death either before or shortly after birth. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/basics/complications/con-20014854

The glucose test is performed to test gestational diabetes (GD). The test is usually administered between 26 to 28 weeks. To take the test, you need to fast overnight for at least 8 hours before the OGTT. Two tubes of blood will be drawn, then you will be given some kind of drink and another two tubes of blood will be drawn after 2 hours. If your first blood sample showed a blood glucose level of greater than 5.5mmol/l and the second was above 9mml/l you will be diagnosed as having gestational diabetes. I have a friend who was given this test because of her family history of diabetes. Turns out she was at risk of getting gestational diabetes and had to monitor her blood sugar level. Towards the later part of her pregnancy, she had gestational diabetes and had to take insulin shots to help maintain her blood sugar level. She also had to control her diet, keeping to a low amount of carbohydrates (and choosing complex carbs over simple carbs) but balanced diet. She also tried to keep active by walking more and taking the stairs (rather than lifts or elevators) as much as possible. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy naturally and fortunately, it went away and did not develop into type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes, or high blood sugar levels, that develops during pregnancy. It occurs in about 4% of all pregnancies. Usually diagnosed in the later stages of pregnancy, it often occurs in women who have never had diabetes. If you're at high risk of gestational diabetes — for example, your body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy was 30 or higher or you have a mother, father, sibling or child with diabetes — your doctor may test for diabetes at your first prenatal visit. If you're at average risk of gestational diabetes, you'll likely have a screening test during your second trimester — between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Here are some ways to keep gestational diabetes under control: http://sg.theasianparent.com/keeping-gestational-diabetes-under-control/

Gestational Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar level which usually develops between the 24th and the 26th week of pregnancy. During one of your prenatal check ups, a blood sample will drawn. Afterwhich, you'll be given glucose drink and another blood sample will be taken. Should you have it, it will NOT cause diabetes to your unborn child. However, because the unborn baby is "used" to the high blood levels, the baby risks having low blood sugar. For more information, you can read. http://sg.theasianparent.com/gestational-diabetes-can-cause-preterm-labour/

Gestational diabetes is a disorder where the hormones produced by the placenta inhibits the insulin efficiency of the mother, causing high blood sugar levels. Usually, a very sweet liquid will be given and you will have to drink it. One hour later, your urine will be tested to see how well your body processes the sugar. http://pregnant.sg/articles/gestational-diabetes-gdm-during-pregnancy/

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