So I am at the 25 week mark now, moving along quickly actually.  This Christmas/New Years was extremely busy with work making these pregnant weeks disappear before my eyes!  Now as we get into January, Whistler starts to slow down again in preparation for the big event in a few weeks!  The 2010 Olympic Games! These next couple of months are going to be filled with so much excitement and energy that before I know it I will be a new mother!

So this week I had to get back to the baby game, being in my 25th week I was due for another medical test for Gestational Diabetes.  What is Gestational Diabetes?  Gestational Diabetes is also referred to as GDM and is a form of diabetes that only pregnant women can develop.  If  a pregnant women develops GDM and has never had diabetes in the past than she diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.

Diabetes is a concerning disorder where the body struggles to either make enough insulin or use insulin properly resulting in an excess of sugar in our bloodstream giving us high blood sugar.  When the body digests carbohydrates it transforms the food into glucose which is required by the body for energy.  This sugar enters the blood stream and awaits the hormone insulin which is created by the pancreas.  Insulin’s job is to take sugar out of the blood stream and into the cells of our body.  When the body does not create enough insulin or in someway does not work properly we end up with a diabetic condition.

Those at most risk for developing GDM are:

• A member of a high risk population such as, Aboriginal, Hispanic, African descent, South Asian and Asian
• Over the age of 35
• Obese weight
• Past history with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Use of corticosteroids
• Acanthosis Nigricans (a skin darkening disorder)
• or had a previous diagnosis of GDM

Although in most cases pregnant women who do develop GDM have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Development, GDM can have negative affects on the pregnancy as well:

• The baby’s body is larger than normal—called macrosomia. A large baby may need to be delivered by a surgical procedure called cesarean section, instead of naturally through the vagina.
• The baby’s blood sugar is too low—called hypoglycemia. Starting to breastfeed right away can help get more glucose to the baby. The baby may also need to get glucose through a tube into his or her blood.
• The baby’s skin turns yellowish and the whites of the eyes may change color—called jaundice. This condition is easily treated and is not serious if treated.
• The baby may have trouble breathing and need oxygen or other help—called Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
• The baby may have low mineral levels in the blood. This problem can causes muscle twitching or cramping, but can be treated by giving the baby extra minerals

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Gestational_Diabetes.cfm

So obviously it is important to screen for this condition.  It is recommended that all pregnant women be screened for Gestational Diabetes between weeks 24 and 28 of you pregnancy.

I just had my test done yesterday and it is a little time consuming actually.  It is important that you eat in the morning and about two hours after eating is the perfect time to have your GDM test administered.  You are required to stay in the laboratory the entire time you are participating in case of any difficulties.  The test takes just over an hour.

First you are simply required to drink a bottle of what tastes and looks exactly like orange pop.  You must drink the entire bottle in under 5 minutes and then you wait for an hour so be sure to bring those pregnancy and labour books that you have been putting off!

After an hour passes, the lab technicians perform a blood test.  The results will be sent to your Doctor.  If you fail you will be asked to re-take the test on a fasting stomach.

If you are diagnosed with GDM your Doctor will help get you onto a plan to control the condition which usually includes checking your blood sugar levels daily, a healthy low carbohydrate diet, exercise plan and possibly the addition of insulin as an aid to regulate sugar levels.

It is important to remember that most pregnancies with GDM result in healthy babies and healthy mothers immediately after birth.  This condition seems to disappear after the baby is born.  That being said, this condition can also be a very important warning sign to new mothers as mothers who had GDM and the children of those mothers are at a higher lifetime risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.  This can be an important catalyst for a healthy lifestyle change for you and your child as these conditions are certainly preventable.

I meet again with Dr. Anderson on the second of February where we will discuss my results.  Fingers Crossed….XXXX