The introduction of a healthy diet that contemplates strict supervision of carbohydrate consumption allows us to control most cases of gestational diabetes, says the endocrine of Hospital Park Macarena Sánchez-Gallego.
In the rest of the cases, he explains, it is also necessary to resort to the administration of insulin in low doses and for several times a day.Sánchez-Gallego points out that gestational diabetes occurs as a consequence of the alteration of the metabolism of blood sugars during pregnancy, caused by different hormonal changes typical of pregnancy, especially during the second and third quarter.
He points out that, although the incidence is between 3% and 8% of women, it is a rising pathology as a consequence of the unhealthy habits that predominate in society.
Overweight and age, especially after 35, are the main risk factors that cause this disease.To this is added the presence of this pathology or preeclampsia (elevation of blood pressure) in previous pregnancies, the race, the family history of diabetes and the existence of polycystic ovaries.The endocrine of Hospital Parque Matiza that a healthy lifestyle, which contemplates a healthy diet, the practice of 150 minutes of exercise per week and the elimination of the smoking habit could contribute to reducing the incidence of gestational diabetes to 80%.
Universal screening
Its detection is linked, in most cases, to the realization of a universal screening between week 24 and 28 of pregnancy, although the first pregnancy control visit can be advanced to a greater presence of risk factors.The test focuses on analyzing glucose values before and after the administration of water with sugar.If the screening is positive, this test is carried out again with a greater concentration of sugar to confirm the existence of the pathology.Sánchez-Gallego underlines the importance of detecting gestational diabetes as soon as possible to avoid future complications both in the mother and the child.In the case of the child, the effects can range from the least common, such as the presence of malformations when diabetes develops during the first weeks of gestation, to episodes of hypoglycemia once it is born or an increase in the probability of presenting obesity inadult life.
In the mother, the most frequent is the complication of childbirth due to the increase in the size of the baby, so it is often necessary to perform a caesarean section.In addition, it has a greater risk of presenting preeclampsia, which can endanger your life.The probability of preterm delivery is also increased.Dr. Sánchez-Gallego insists that women who have suffered gestational diabetes should continue to control the glucose level after childbirth to avoid developing diabetes in the future.