By: Marc Castro

When the blood sugar of a pregnant mother is well above normal, she has just developed the condition known as gestational diabetes. Because of the myriad of hormonal changes in the mother’s body, the body becomes intolerant of or resistant to insulin. The hormone insulin is important to maintain blood sugar levels.

When the mother’s body is unable to maintain blood sugar levels, there are many complications that arise. The following are some of the complications that may arise:

Fetal Macrosomia. This is a condition wherein the baby is unusually large as a result of the gestational diabetes. This can result in internal injuries to the mother, as her uterus is unable to properly contain the infant or umbilical cord depression, leading to possible hypoxia and eventual brain damage.

Increased Incidence for Cesarean Section. Cesarean section pregnancies involve surgical delivery of the infant from the mother’s womb. There are greater risks involved in surgically delivering the infant, such as overdose of anesthesia and other possible complications resulting from the trauma of surgery. Above this, the increased cost of surgery would prove to be a burden to many newborn parents.

Predisposition for Diabetes. Because of the lower insulin levels and the increased levels of blood sugar in the infant, the long-term effects include the predisposition to develop either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. This would mean the infant as it develops, would have trouble metabolizing blood sugar leading to complications such as liver problems, cardiovascular issues, blindness and limbic nerve damage.

As can be seen, gestational diabetes creates more complications for both mother and child. These include macrosomia, increased risk in cesarean section delivery and predisposition to develop diabetes in the future. A simple blood test can determine the risk or actual development of gestational diabetes. When diagnosed, the doctor must provide a diabetes management regimen during the gestation period. In the long run, early detection and proper management can lead to a healthier pregnancy and healthy baby.

Disclaimer: This article is not written by a doctor. Please seek your own medical advise on this matter.