Sophia McCarthy
Operations Manager
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Your first pregnancy can be an exciting—but also a slightly daunting—time. You’ve likely done your fair share of googling and research to get an idea of what health conditions to watch out for. Something that may have come up a lot is gestational diabetes; a condition in which a person without diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. At The Ultrasound Suite, we’ve scanned many pregnant patients in our clinics who are currently living with, or have previously had, gestational diabetes, so we completely understand that it can cause a lot of worry.
Gestational diabetes can happen to anyone that is pregnant—in fact, according to the HSE, it is: “one of the most common medical disorders in pregnancy”. But you may be at a higher risk if you have a family history of diabetes or have previously given birth to large babies. Being overweight prior to and during pregnancy may also increase your risk.
So what exactly happens in your body if you develop gestational diabetes?
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
Diabetes refers to high levels of glucose in the blood—otherwise referred to as “blood sugar levels”. Glucose is the major energy source of the body (we get it from eating carbs!), and it is carried by your bloodstream to your body’s cells. However, in order for the glucose to get to the cells, it needs a bit of help from insulin: a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin encourages the cells in your body to gather up the glucose, which thereby removes it from your blood.
Basically, diabetes happens when there is a deficiency of insulin—or the insulin being produced is not being used properly.
So why would someone who isn’t diabetic suddenly have this happen during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that can interfere with insulin doing its job. Usually, your pancreas will realise what’s happening, and just make more insulin to balance-out your blood sugars. But in some women, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to compensate, and blood glucose levels go up. This means that as the pregnancy progresses, your body’s cells become more resistant to insulin, and it is this resistance that eventually escalates to a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
What Are the Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes?
As gestational diabetes does not usually cause any obvious symptoms, most cases may only be discovered when your blood sugar levels are tested during your screening for gestational diabetes.
However, some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar levels gets too high, such as:
- increased thirst
- needing to pee more often than usual
- a dry mouth
- tiredness
- blurred eyesight
- genital itching or thrush
It’s also important to keep in mind that some of these symptoms can be common during pregnancy and are not necessarily a sign of gestational diabetes.
How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?
Gestational diabetes is diagnosed via an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). This is a blood test that measures how well your body uses sugar (glucose) during pregnancy. It is generally performed between 24 to 28 weeks. First of all, fasting blood is taken to determine your baseline blood sugar level. After that, you drink a large glass of sugar solution. When testing for gestational diabetes, blood is drawn one hour after drinking the solution and then again after another two hours. If the blood sugar reading is above a certain level, this could be a sign that sugar is not being absorbed fast enough by your organs, indicating gestational diabetes.
Can an Ultrasound Diagnose Gestational Diabetes?
Ultrasound can only provide us with indications that could be linked to gestational diabetes. If our sonographer notices during your scan that your baby is measuring larger than expected or there are abnormally high levels of amniotic fluid, they may advise you to make your healthcare provider aware. Some women can develop gestational diabetes after 28 weeks, and it may be a case where you previously tested negative but may need to retest later in your pregnancy.
What Are The Risks to Baby With Gestational Diabetes?
According to the HSE, your baby may be at risk for the following conditions if you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes:
- Macrosomia (being large at birth): large babies are more likely to experience birth trauma such as damage to their shoulders (shoulder dystocia) during vaginal birth
- Low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia)
- Respiratory problems
- Jaundice
- Low calcium or magnesium – this is very rare
How Is Gestational Diabetes Managed?
Gestational diabetes can initially be managed with a low-sugar diet. If a low sugar diet is not regulating your blood sugars, you may need to begin insulin medication to help your body to break down glucose.
RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING
HSE.ie: Why diabetes develops in pregnancy
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/gestational-diabetes/
HSE.ie: Gestational Diabetes Risks