Question
Does gestational diabetes pose a risk to the fetus? How does gestational diabetes occur? What are the dangers to the fetus and the pregnant woman? What should be paid attention to?
Answer
Many pregnant women develop diabetes during pregnancy even though they did not have it before. This is because the body’s hormone levels change during pregnancy, and the placenta produces hormones that have an anti-insulin effect; carbohydrate metabolism increases during pregnancy, and so does the need for insulin; the placenta also produces enzymes that break down insulin. These factors all increase the need for insulin during pregnancy, so the body’s insulin production must also increase. However, for pregnant women whose insulin reserves are reduced, this can lead to abnormal glucose metabolism and the development of gestational diabetes. Therefore, women who do not have diabetes can first experience it during pregnancy. Not all pregnant women will develop diabetes. Women who have any of the following conditions should be aware: ① Those with a family history of diabetes; ② Those with a history of abnormal deliveries, such as unexplained multiple miscarriages, stillbirths, neonatal deaths, or cases of birth defects or large babies; ③ Those whose current pregnancy suspects the fetus is larger than average or has excessive amniotic fluid; ④ Those with recurrent candidiasis that does not improve with treatment; ⑤ Obese pregnant women; ⑥ Pregnant women over 30 years old; ⑦ Those who repeatedly have positive urine sugar tests; ⑧ Those with polydipsia, polyphagia, and polyuria. These women should pay attention to a balanced diet during pregnancy, reduce intake of high-sugar foods, avoid excessive total calorie intake daily, and engage in appropriate exercise during pregnancy to reduce and prevent gestational diabetes. At the same time, doctors should also perform regular blood sugar checks on these women to diagnose diabetes early. Gestational diabetes used to be rare. However, with the rapid increase in the incidence of diabetes in recent years, more and more pregnant women with diabetes give birth. This has become a common issue faced by obstetricians. There is a high risk of complications for both mothers and babies when mothers have diabetes during pregnancy. Based on a large amount of clinical experience, diabetic pregnant women can receive timely and appropriate blood sugar control before and during pregnancy, strict monitoring of mothers and babies, and most cases can be managed effectively.