Patient's question:
What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes??Doctor's answer:
Gestational diabetes refers to diabetes that occurs or is first discovered during pregnancy, with 80% to 90% of pregnant women having no history of diabetes before pregnancy, while about 10% already had latent diabetes before becoming pregnant but were not aware of it.Gestational diabetes occurs because hormones secreted after conception have a resisting effect on insulin in the body's peripheral tissues. As the pregnancy progresses, this effect peaks between weeks 24 and 28, which is why doctors conduct diabetes screening tests for pregnant women during this period. Statistics show that the incidence of gestational diabetes has increased from 2% in 1996 to 4.6% in 2003, possibly due to factors such as excessive nutrition and poor dietary habits among pregnant women.
Gestational diabetes poses risks to both the mother and the baby, manifesting as an increased likelihood of conditions like preeclampsia, polyhydramnios, neonatal hypoglycemia, higher rates of macrosomia, and an increased risk of difficult labor. Dietary management is the primary treatment for gestational diabetes, with only 10% to 20% of patients requiring insulin therapy, and oral hypoglycemic drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy. Statistics indicate that women with gestational diabetes have a 50% to 60% chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years after delivery, so it is important to continue preventive measures even after recovery from gestational diabetes.