Gestational diabetes symptoms

Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Gestational diabetes refers to the abnormal glucose tolerance that occurs during pregnancy, typically characterized by mild, asymptomatic elevated blood sugar levels without obvious symptoms such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. However, when blood sugar levels are high, symptoms typical of diabetes such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, and frequent urination may occur. If excessive amniotic fluid, a large fetus, or recurrent infections of the external genitalia occur during pregnancy, it is important to be vigilant for the presence of diabetes. It is generally recommended that patients undergo the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) during the mid-stage of pregnancy to confirm whether gestational diabetes is present. Women's blood sugar levels generally return to normal after childbirth, but the risk of developing diabetes later increases significantly. Therefore, patients with gestational diabetes should be screened for diabetes 6-12 weeks postpartum and monitored over the long term.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes symptoms

Gestational diabetes refers to the abnormal glucose tolerance that occurs during pregnancy, typically characterized by mild, asymptomatic elevated blood sugar levels without obvious symptoms such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. However, when blood sugar levels are high, symptoms typical of diabetes such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, and frequent urination may occur. If excessive amniotic fluid, a large fetus, or recurrent infections of the external genitalia occur during pregnancy, it is important to be vigilant for the presence of diabetes. It is generally recommended that patients undergo the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) during the mid-stage of pregnancy to confirm whether gestational diabetes is present. Women's blood sugar levels generally return to normal after childbirth, but the risk of developing diabetes later increases significantly. Therefore, patients with gestational diabetes should be screened for diabetes 6-12 weeks postpartum and monitored over the long term.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
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Causes of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes refers to the abnormality of blood sugar levels that occurs during pregnancy, at which time it is called gestational diabetes. The reason for the occurrence of gestational diabetes is due to significant changes in the body's endocrine hormones after pregnancy. The body releases many hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which can increase insulin resistance. Thus, a much greater amount of insulin is needed to maintain normal blood sugar levels. If the pancreatic beta cells are not sufficient to compensate for the increased insulin secretion needed to meet the normal metabolic requirements caused by these resistance factors, then elevated blood sugar and abnormal glucose metabolism occur, ultimately leading to gestational diabetes.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
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How to reduce sugar in a diabetic diet?

Dietary control is the most important method of treatment for diabetes. If dietary control is improper, all hypoglycemic drugs, including insulin, will not be very effective, and the focus of dietary management in diabetes is to control the intake of carbohydrates. Our Chinese diet is primarily based on carbohydrates like rice. Mainly, we control the amount of rice consumed, with each meal (lunch and dinner) consisting of about 100 to 200 grams of rice. This is complemented by plenty of vegetables and a certain amount of lean meat to enhance satiety. By controlling the intake of carbohydrates in our daily lives, blood sugar levels can drop significantly.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes symptoms

Gestational diabetes shows several symptoms, the most typical being the "three more one less" syndrome, namely increased thirst, increased appetite, urination, and weight loss. The second common manifestation is fatigue, which is due to glucose not being utilized effectively in the body and being broken down too quickly, leading to insufficient energy replenishment. The third is unexplained frequent fungal infections, such as recurring candidal infections of the vulva and vagina, at which point blood sugar screening should be considered. The fourth symptom is pregnancy accompanied by excessive amniotic fluid or a large fetus. The fifth is glucose positivity in urine from two fasting morning samples.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi
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How is type 2 diabetes treated?

The treatment of type 2 diabetes includes the following aspects. First, dietary treatment is recommended, advising regular and quantitative meals three times a day, and avoiding late-night snacks and extra meals. Second, appropriate exercise. Third, self-monitoring of blood glucose; it is best to purchase a glucometer for home use and show the recorded blood glucose levels to the doctor during hospital visits. Fourth, diabetes education. Fifth, medication treatment, which includes oral medications and insulin therapy. It's important to visit an endocrinology specialist promptly to determine the most suitable medication under the guidance of a doctor.