Gestational diabetes affects up to 10% of pregnancies each year in the US. Keep reading to find out the warning signs of gestational diabetes and how it's treated.

Gestational diabetes is a condition that causes blood sugar levels to rise during pregnancy. Similar to other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes occurs when the body fails to process sugars effectively. Without management, gestational diabetes can affect both the health of the pregnant parent and the baby. Fortunately, with early diagnosis and care, parents who develop gestational diabetes can manage their condition. Keep reading to learn more about the warning signs of gestational diabetes and how to treat it. 

Signs and Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Many people do not realize they have gestational diabetes because they do not develop any symptoms. In fact, many symptoms associated with gestational diabetes are similar to general pregnancy symptoms, such as excessive thirst and increased urination. 

Possible signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes include:

• Feeling tired and sleepy
• Blurry vision
• Excessive thirst
• Nausea
• Yeast infections
• Frequent urination
• Sugar present in the urine

Because symptoms are difficult to pinpoint or recognize, all pregnant parents should be screened for gestational diabetes at least once during their pregnancy. This is why it is essential to keep regular prenatal care appointments with your healthcare provider. Without careful management, gestational diabetes can lead to many complications, including:

• Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy that can lead to fatal complications. Most cases of preeclampsia occur after 20 weeks and cause sudden weight gain and edema.
• C-section: Gestational diabetes can increase the likelihood of the need for a c-section delivery. 
• Large birth weight: High glucose levels can lead to excess weight gain in babies. This can lead to complications and injuries during birth.
• Preterm delivery: Elevated glucose levels can cause early labor and preterm delivery. 
• Neonatal complications: Premature babies can experience respiratory distress syndrome at birth.
• Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) in babies can cause seizures.
• Stillbirth: Unmanaged gestational diabetes can result in neonatal death before or shortly after birth.

Although the exact cause of gestational diabetes isn't known, there are certain risk factors that put a person at risk of developing the condition. These include:

• Being overweight
• Being over 30 years old
• Lack of physical exercise
• High blood pressure
• Previous gestational diabetes
• Existing heart disease
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

How To Treat Gestational Diabetes

Typically, when you eat food, the sugars from that food enter the bloodstream, and the pancreas makes insulin to deal with it. Insulin helps glucose move into the cells of the body to be used as energy. However, certain pregnancy hormones can hinder the effectiveness of insulin, leading to insulin resistance. This results in elevated blood sugar levels and gestational diabetes developing. It's important to note that there's no one specific treatment for gestational diabetes. However, several lifestyle changes can help to treat symptoms and keep blood sugar levels under control.

One of the most effective ways to keep your blood sugar level safely under control is to follow a gestational diabetes diet plan. A specific diet plan that meets your needs can be created with the help of your doctor or nutritionist. You can avoid dangerous blood sugar spikes by following a nutritious diet full of healthy foods. In addition, monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly can help to avoid potential spikes before they become a medical emergency. 

As well as following a healthy diet, staying active can help to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. Regular exercise stimulates the body to effectively move glucose into cells to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Exercise can also increase the sensitivity of the cells to help avoid insulin resistance. Before starting a new exercise regime, it's crucial to seek advice from your healthcare provider to ensure it's safe. 

Along with diet and exercise, some doctors may also prescribe oral or injected medication to help manage gestational diabetes. Injected insulin helps to lower blood sugar levels and avoid dangerous spikes. 

Do you think you may have gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes is a serious condition that should be managed by a healthcare professional. If you have symptoms of gestational diabetes, it's important to seek medical advice immediately. Although gestational diabetes typically resolves itself after birth, it's important to treat and monitor its progression while it's active. With routine prenatal care and close monitoring from your healthcare provider, you can minimize your risk and manage gestational diabetes effectively.