You could have gestational diabetes, but sometimes you may not know it. Around 10% of women find out they have gestational diabetes midway during pregnancy. Some women might be surprised by the news as they feel healthy and normal. Gestational diabetes is one type of diabetes that develops only during pregnancy.
It is a condition in which blood sugar level increases due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. Women who never had diabetes before will develop this health condition. However, for many such women with gestational diabetes after their delivery.
Symptoms you can identify
Below are some of the symptoms you can identify if you have gestational diabetes.
Excess urination
Your body is unable to consume blood glucose. Thus blood glucose rises. Your body tries to normalize it with the help of kidneys by flushing out these extra sugars in blood as urine.
That is why women with gestational diabetes urinate frequently and in large quantities after sugary food or drink.
Increased thirst
Women with gestational diabetes may experience dry mouth and frequent thirst after having a meal rich in carbs after about an hour.
Increased appetite
May experience frequent and increased appetite. Also, the tired feeling due to lack of energy may signal hunger.
Nausea
During pregnancy, nausea and vomiting are common. However, women with gestational diabetes have these feelings 30 minutes after eating high-carb food such as rice, pasta, potatoes, and sweet-tasting fruits and fruit juices.
Tiredness
Although sleepiness, fatigue, or tiredness is common during pregnancy, people with gestational diabetes have tiredness even after a restful sleep.
Improper glucose utilization, removal of vital minerals, and dehydration will lead to a lack of energy. That’s why gestational diabetes patients feel tired and sleepy.
Headache
Having headaches for no reason is an early sign of hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose levels). It happens most probably while wakeup or after eating a high carb food.
Irritability
Women with gestational diabetes may experience frequent mood swings and irritability. Lack of glucose for energy causes irritation and mood swings.
Urinary tract infection
Frequent urinary tract infection is one of the primary symptoms of gestational diabetes.
Dry and itchy skin
Skin loses its luster due to dehydration and a short supply of nutrients and becomes dry and itchy.
Yeast infection
Frequent yeast infection (Thrush) is identified by redness, swelling, and itching on or around the vulva, unpleasant odor with a white curd-like appearance around the vagina, and white discharge from the vagina.
Vision variation
Blurred vision or maybe in some cases such as myopia, the site becomes clear, and no more requirement of glasses.
Numbness/ Tingling of feet
There is insensibility, an itchy or sting sensation in the feet. It is due to the short supply of nutrients to the extremities.
Excess of weight gain
During pregnancy, you should maintain a proper weight. However, women with gestational diabetes have an excess weight gain. It happens because of frequent hunger, continuous dumping of food items, and unnecessary fat storage.
Sore heal slowly
Cuts take longer to cure as the immune system does not work efficiently in the case of high blood sugar.
If you experience some of the above symptoms during pregnancy, you should undergo a blood test. It helps to find out whether you have gestational diabetes or not.
Even if you have gestational diabetes, proper treatment can help to avoid further complications.
