Gestational Diabetes.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is the diabetes which develops during pregnancy.

What causes gestational diabetes?

During pregnancy some hormonal changes occur which put almost all women on some impaired blood sugar levels. These levels are not so high but in later part of pregnancy that is 3rd trimester it may lead to development of diabetes.
During pregnancy, placenta (organ that connects baby to uterus via umbilical cord), produce some hormones which help to shift nutrients from mother to developing fetus. Certain other hormones are also produced by placenta which prevent the blood sugar levels of mother to go down. They act by resisting the action of insulin.
Over the course of pregnancy, these hormones lead to progressive impaired glucose intolerance(high blood sugar levels). Body tries to decrease these elevated blood sugar levels by making increased amounts of insulin. Usually the mother's pancreas is able to produce three times more insulin to overcome the effects of these placental hormones. If however, pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels will rise, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Complications of gestational diabetes.

Diabetes can affect the developing fetus throughout the course of pregnancy. In early pregnancy, mother's diabetes can result in increased birth defects and increased chances of miscarriage. Many of the birth defect which occur usually affect major organs such as heart and brain.
During the second and third trimester, a mother's diabetes can lead to over-nutrition and excess growth of baby which will pose danger at the time of labor and delivery.
In addition, high level of insulin from mother may cause sudden fall in blood sugar levels of newborn at the time of birth as it won't get enough glucose. 

Who is at risk? 

• Over weight prior to get pregnant
• Having sugar in urine
• Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting sugar levels
• Family history of diabetes
• Previous history of giving birth to baby of weight more than 9 pounds
• Previous history of giving birth to a stillborn(dead at the time of birth) baby
• Gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
• Having too much of amniotic fluid(a condition called polyhydramnios)
• Many women who develop gestational diabetes don't have any risk factor