Dr. Narendra B.S., Lead Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetology at Aster Whitefield Hospital, talks about diabetes in pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, and how to manage it for a healthy mom and baby.
The different types of diabetes that can affect pregnancy, includes pre-existing Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes which is diagnosed during pregnancy. Gestational Diabetes is typically tested for between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Treatment for Gestational Diabetes
Dr. Narendra highlights the importance of managing diabetes throughout pregnancy to avoid complications for both the mother and the baby. Uncontrolled diabetes can increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, and other health problems for the mother. For the baby, it can lead to problems like neonatal diabetes, hypoglycemia, jaundice, and heart defects.
The doctor recommends a healthy diet, physical activity and insulin as the best treatment option for managing diabetes during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually disappears after delivery, but women who have had it are at higher risk of developing diabetes later in life. So, it's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle after pregnancy to reduce this risk.
