Experts recommend that all women be screened for diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, as it can harm both the mother and the developing baby, doctors said.
What is diabetes mellitus?
When you eat food, the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood will increase. Insulin regulates glucose levels.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas’ beta cells. It helps the glucose present in the blood to get into the body’s cells. thus providing energy. Pregnancy symptoms
But your blood sugar levels will remain very high if your body cannot make sufficient insulin or use the insulin produced. This condition is termed diabetes mellitus or simply diabetes.
There are three types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
It occurs when your body cannot produce enough insulin. This happens when your immune system destroys the beta cells.
Type 2 diabetes
It occurs when your body stops responding to the insulin produced. This is also called insulin resistance.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Women diagnosed with this are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Cancer network
What effect does diabetes mellitus during pregnancy have on your baby?
Hypoglycemia
Your baby’s blood sugar levels stay very close to your blood sugar levels throughout the pregnancy. Right after the delivery, the baby continues to have high insulin but no longer has any glucose from the mother.
This may cause a sudden drop in your baby’s glucose level. This can be a problem for your baby. So your baby should be fed immediately. In some cases, the baby is provided with glucose in an IV.
Your baby is putting on weight too.
When a mother’s blood sugar is high, her babies grow larger. Due to high blood glucose, your baby starts making more insulin and a lot more hormones. This makes the baby put on more weight.
Increased risk of birth injury
The head is the primary part of the baby. Your baby’s blood sugar will increase if you have high blood sugar while pregnant.
At the delivery time, the head comes out, but it gets difficult at the shoulder portion. The shoulder distortion is a part of the problem This makes it difficult for the baby to get enough oxygen.
Metabolic issues and obesity
Diabetes is a disease that affects children of diabetic mothers.
This is because your blood sugars during pregnancy will have a lasting or sometimes a lifelong effect of having metabolism issues or obesity for your children.
Stillbirth
A stillbirth can happen if your blood glucose levels aren’t controlled. This means a pregnancy loss.
Stillbirth is a rare condition. But the risk gets higher if your blood sugar levels remain uncontrolled near the due date.
Bottom line on Diabetes mellitus during pregnancy
If you are planning for a baby, know more about diabetes mellitus and take the necessary steps to lessen its risks.
