How To Save Next Generation From Diabetes

You can easily manage gestational diabetes and deliver a healthy baby.

- Luke Coutinho

When we talk about diabetes, we always refer to type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but very rarely do we speak about Gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes found in pregnant women. Curious about gestational diabetes? Let’s learn a thing or two about what it is, its risk factors and how to prevent it.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts between weeks 24 to 28 of pregnancy in some women, and usually goes away after the baby is born. Like diabetes type 1 and type 2, gestational diabetes is caused due to high levels of sugar in the blood. This occurs due to hormonal and physical changes in the body during pregnancy, causing the cells in the body to use insulin less efficiently, subsequently increasing the levels of glucose in the blood.

Who is most at risk for gestational diabetes?

It is difficult to categorise who is at risk and who is not. However there are certain parameters that I have found handy for a broad classification.

Overweight: Having a BMI of 30 or more going into pregnancy is one of the most common risk factors for gestational diabetes because the extra weight affects insulin’s ability to properly keep blood sugar levels in check.

High level of abdominal fat: Women with higher levels of tummy fat in the first trimester of pregnancy may be more likely to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes later in their pregnancy.