Just curious!

[briashayy]

So I have a couple of questions that should probably already be things I know about, but nobody has said anything to me about it.

What exactly is gestational diabetes? And how is it caused?


And sorry about the attached photo :/ my phones been acting up!

 

[Kyten1978]

Gestational Diabetes is like type 2 diabetes that only occurs in pregnancy. They have linked it to an increase in growth hormones produced by the placenta. Some women's bodies do not react correctly to the influx of hormones so their bodies don't process glucose as efficintly while pregnant. The women themselves do not cause or prevent it occuring, it is just how their bodies respond to the hormones. Kind of like some women having bad morning sickness and some not being bothered by it.

 

[briashayy]

Does that mean it goes away after pregnancy, or does it stick around?

 

[rayraykay]

It will go away after pregnancy. Sometimes right after the placenta is delivered, although it takes a few days for some women. In all likelihood- it will go away right after your placenta is out.

There is also a belief that women who have had gestational diabetes that they will go onto develop type 2 later in life. This also isn't true. My dietician and OB have both told me that this isn't true. Gestational Diabetes DOES NOT cause someone to develop type 2 later in life. It does however, show you you have a tendency towards diabetes sooo if you eat a diet full of sugar and never exercise your chances will go up... but that is true for ANYONE, not just women who have had GD.