Researchers do not yet fully understand or know exactly why some pregnancies develop gestational diabetes or all the factors involved with gestational diabetes causes.
In order for you to have a better understanding of how gestational diabetes occurs, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of how glucose is normally processed in the body.
Insulin
is a hormone produced by your pancreas. When you eat, your digestive
system breaks down the food into glucose and other nutrients.
The
glucose (a simple sugar) enters your bloodstream. Insulin helps glucose
move from your bloodstream into cells in your body where it will be used
for energy.
During pregnancy, the placenta that
surrounds your growing baby produces high levels of a variety of
hormones. Almost all of them interfere with the action of insulin on the
cells, resulting in raised blood sugar levels.
A modest elevation of blood sugar after meals is normal during pregnancy.
As your baby grows, the placenta produces more and more insulin-impairing hormones. In gestational diabetes, the placental hormones interfere so much that the increase in blood sugar is at such a level that it can affect the growth and development of your baby.
Gestational diabetes usually develops during the latter half of pregnancy, it could be (though rarely) as early as week 20, but mostly only later in the pregnancy.
Any pregnant woman can develop gestational diabetes, though some are at greater risk than others.
The risk factors linked to gestational diabetes causes are:
Age
Family history of diabetes
Personal Health history
Overweight or Obese prior to pregnancy
Smoking
Race
Most of the risks for gestational diabetes can be avoided by living a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy eating coupled with regular exercise, while maintaining your ideal weight will reduce your chance of developing diabetes tremendously.
Please consult the services of your
doctor and/or other members of your health care team
before implementing any of the advice contained on this site.
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