According to the International Diabetes Federation, gestational diabetes affects an estimated 4 percent of pregnancies in Kenya. Local hospitals report even higher rates among pregnancies and births, indicating a gap in diagnosis and subsequently, proper management.
Not many women understand gestational diabetes in pregnancy, the risks and complications it can bring to you and baby, and most importantly, that there are ways to manage how it manifests to keep you safe till delivery and beyond.
The most critical of these is getting the screening and if present, managing it as early as possible. At Malaica Maternity Hospital, our maternity care for women with gestational diabetes include nutritionists specialized in maternity health, physicians for general medical concerns, an online community of expectant moms, and 24/7 access to a nurse midwife for emergencies and your peace of mind.
What Are the Causes of Gestational Diabetes?
During the second and third trimesters, pregnancy hormones, such as progesterone, cortisol, and human placental lactogen (hPL), have built up in the placenta. These hormones naturally deprive the mom of insulin by diverting it to the fetus. If the mother’s pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin at the same time, they’re at risk of gestational diabetes in pregnancy.
While this is the known cause of gestational diabetes, some women are at a higher risk of developing the condition due to:
- Heredity: Most mothers who have had or are currently battling gestational diabetes have a family history of it, which indicates it’s due to genetics.
- Being overweight: Pregnant women who are overweight have body fat that increases their body cells’ resistance to insulin. With the pregnancy hormones already impacting insulin for the body, further being overweight is likely to cause gestational diabetes.
Signs and Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
The most common indicators of gestational diabetes include:
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
However, these and other signs that manifest are easy to confuse with pregnancy body changes and discomfort. That’s why it’s important to attend your antenatal clinics and get the proper test when time comes.
Testing for Gestational Diabetes
Between the 24th and 28th week, your doctor or midwife will schedule an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to screen for gestational diabetes. This blood test is carried out at this point because your body has been producing more and more hormones by now. The test measures the amount of glucose in your blood two hours after you have taken glucose. High blood glucose levels are indicative of gestational diabetes.
Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare and what to expect throughout the process.
The OGTT may be carried out earlier than the 24th week for women who are already at risk of gestational diabetes, such as those with a family history or are obese. This is among the reasons it’s important to attend your ANC clinics as the doctor recommends.
How to Manage Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy
If the OGTT test comes out positive, there are various ways to control and manage gestational diabetes both at home, with a doctor, and through medication depending on the severity.
Healthy and Managed Nutrition
Most doctors will refer you to a nutritionist to help you curate a diet that’s specific to gestational diabetes. This typically includes the types of food to prioritize, the frequency of eating, meal planning, and portioning.
An ideal nutrition plan to manage diabetes prioritizes vegetables and fruits, healthy fats, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates and while limiting processed foods intake.
Related:
- What to Eat and Avoid During Each Trimester: Advice From a Maternal Health Nutritionist
- Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
Exercise
Pairing a healthy diet with low impact exercises during pregnancy results in an efficient breakdown of the sugars and proteins you consume, maintaining a normal sugar level. Swimming, walking, and prenatal yoga are ideal gentle movements you can implement for managing gestational diabetes.
Monitoring Blood Glucose Levels
Your doctor will also demonstrate how to test your sugar levels at home so you know when to seek help. They might give you a glucose monitoring device or glucometer for gestational diabetes. You can also buy the device from your local chemist or online pharmacy with the price ranging from a few hundreds to thousands Kenya shillings.
Medication or Insulin Treatment
In severe cases of gestational diabetes or when the other methods are ineffective, your doctor may administer insulin and other medication to attain the required blood sugar levels. Insulin regulates the blood sugar from getting too high which is also known as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia when it’s too low.
The Risks of Gestational Diabetes to You and Your Baby
The risks of unmanaged gestational diabetes impacts both you the mother as well as your baby. These complications can occur during pregnancy, delivery, and carry on beyond to the mother and child’s lives after birth.
Effects of Diabetes During Pregnancy on Your Baby
Babies born to mothers with unchecked gestational diabetes are prone to:
- Excessive birth weight
- Breathing complications
- Sudden drop in blood sugar levels upon delivery
- Jaundice
- Long-term diabetes and obesity
Risks of Gestational Diabetes on the Mother
For mothers, diabetes during pregnancy can introduce complications such as:
- High blood pressure causing organs to shut down
- Risk of developing diabetes in the future after pregnancy
- Delivery complications due to the baby’s excessive weight
Care for Diabetes During Pregnancy at Malaica Maternity Hospital
If you’re wondering whether you’re at risk of gestational diabetes, suspect you have the symptoms, already tested positive or looking for a maternity centre to get your oral glucose tolerance test, Malaica is here for you.
Our antenatal care plan ensures you receive the healthcare you need right from the start to support the management of gestational diabetes. From maternal health nutritionists to 24/7 access to a nurse midwife, and a well equipped hospital, we walk with you throughout your pregnancy till birth and beyond.
Speak to us by booking an appointment or calling +254 746 610643 to learn how we can support you and your little one. You can also visit us at 240 General Mathenge Gardens, Westlands for a one-on-one consultation with a maternity care specialist.