Type 2 Diabetes In Pregnancy can cause numerous issues not only for the mother, but also for her unborn baby. When a woman is approximately twenty-four weeks pregnant, her body may start to react differently to all of the extra hormones pulsing through her body. Her placenta is the organ that houses the baby during the pregnancy and it is through this organ that the baby is supplied oxygen and nutrients in order to grow and develop. The placenta may produce an abundance of hormones that trigger impairment in the function or absorption of insulin, which can result in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
A normal pancreas will produce insulin in order for sugar from digested food to be transferred out of the bloodstream and into the muscles, fats, and tissues with the help of insulin. When the body cannot absorb the insulin, the sugar remains in the blood and there is literally no energy to fuel the body. In type 2 diabetes in pregnancy, the blood glucose levels affect the mother and the fetus simultaneously.
Type 2 Diabetes In Pregnancy– Complications
Type 2 diabetes in pregnancy can cause extreme fatigue as well as hypoglycemia and macrosomia. Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the fetus’ blood sugar level is extremely low. In the womb, the baby tries to match the mother’s high blood glucose level with a high insulin production, but after delivery, the baby no longer has access to the mother’s supply of glucose. The fetus will need intravenous glucose to elevate his glucose levels.
As the baby produces extra insulin to keep up with the mother, this excess glucose is unnecessary and it will be stored as fat. Most likely, the baby will weigh over nine pounds when he is born which could initiate a difficult labor and delivery. The baby could suffer birth defects or could die.Type 2 diabetes in pregnancy ends for the mother with delivery of her baby, but she is likely to develop diabetes in subsequent pregnancies. In addition, she is now prone to developing Type 2 diabetes for the rest of her life if she does not gain control over her blood glucose levels.
Type 2 Diabetes In Pregnancy– Treatment & Prevention
The best way to prevent type 2 diabetes in pregnancy is to maintain proper weight ranges and blood sugar levels before, during, and after pregnancy. Women who have increased blood pressure, high cholesterol and do not exercise will probably experience type 2 diabetes at some point. Treatment includes eating a healthy diet that is low in fat, sugar, and cholesterol in addition to daily physical activity. Pregnant women, especially, should not smoke or drink.
