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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Will the fetus have diabetes if the mother has gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a common complication during pregnancy, characterized by elevated levels during glucose tolerance tests conducted while a woman is pregnant. Gestational diabetes can significantly affect both the mother and fetus, but actively controlling blood sugar can generally minimize these impacts. If a baby is born to a mother with gestational diabetes, this baby has a higher likelihood of developing diabetes later in life compared to the general population, but it does not necessarily mean that they will. This is because such babies have a genetic predisposition and might experience insufficient pancreatic function as adults, which can lead to diabetes. Therefore, it is important for these newborns to undergo regular blood sugar monitoring as adults to determine if they have diabetes, and if so, to seek proactive treatment.

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Care of diabetic foot

The care of diabetic foot is very important. In our daily life, we need to do the following aspects. First, regularly wash and check both feet. During washing, the water temperature should not be too high. Also, keep the skin moist to prevent it from drying and cracking. Second, choose suitable shoes and socks, preferably loose-fitting to avoid tightness. Third, be careful when trimming toenails, making sure not to damage the skin of the feet. If there are any sores, go to the hospital immediately for treatment. Fourth, avoid using corrosive chemicals on the feet.

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Can diabetics drink alcohol?

It is not recommended for diabetes patients to drink alcohol, as alcohol consumption can lead to digestive enzyme disorders, causing problems with the blood sugar regulation mechanism in patients, significantly increasing blood sugar fluctuations. This can lead to severe hypoglycemia or severe hyperglycemia, severely affecting the patient's condition. Therefore, it is advised that diabetes patients should avoid alcohol, and it is best to quit drinking altogether.

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What should diabetics pay attention to in their diet?

There is a general principle for the diet of diabetes, which is to pay attention to controlling the total daily caloric intake. The second principle is to have a balanced diet, and to be more specific, there are several points: The first one is to eat at fixed times and fixed amounts. Fixed times means having three meals a day at regular intervals, eating on schedule and paying attention not to have extra meals. Generally, the majority of diabetic patients should not eat less in more meals. Fixed amounts mean that the portion size of each meal should be roughly the same every day, not less today and more tomorrow. The third principle is to try to eat drier foods and avoid liquid foods, as liquid foods are easy to digest and absorb, causing blood sugar to rise quickly after meals. Therefore, these are some of the points that need attention in the diet for diabetes.

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Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes

The typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes are referred to as "three excesses and one deficiency." The three excesses include excessive thirst and dry mouth, increased appetite with frequent hunger, and increased urination. The one deficiency refers to weight loss; these are the more typical symptoms. Some patients might often find out about their elevated blood sugar during routine health checks at work. Others may seek medical advice due to issues like skin itchiness or wounds that heal poorly after injury. Some might mainly experience numbness in their hands and feet, or blurred vision among other symptoms.