Gestational diabetes is similar to Type 2 diabetes in that it is acquired at least partly from environmental factors. The condition arises during pregnancy in women who have not previously been diagnosed with diabetes. It has been associated with a variety of birth defects in children of mothers who develop the condition early and who suffer high blood sugar during their first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology and the Sooriya Hospital in Chennai, India, looked at inflammation in umbilical veins to begin to get an idea concerning how this form of diabetes might be affecting the fetus.
Their study, reported on in PLos One in December 2013 included...
- 30 women with Gestational diabetes, and
- 38 women with healthy pregnancies.
The cord blood of infants whose mothers had Gestational diabetes had higher levels of molecules associated with blood vessel inflammation than had infants from normal pregnancies.
Some birth defects associated with Gestational diabetes are easy to explain on the basis of high blood sugar levels. Infants of diabetic mothers tend to be large and have increased fat stores - not surprising for children receiving too much sugar. Their shoulders can be broken during birth due to their size. Less easy to explain are heart defects, iron abnormalities, and low calcium and magnesium levels. Fortunately these defects are much rarer than they were in the last century, thanks to early detection and good blood sugar control - but there is still some risk. Inflammation could be one piece of the puzzle explaining birth defects in infants of Gestational diabetic mothers.
Avoiding diabetes during pregnancy is good for both mothers and their children...
- having an overly large infant puts the mother at risk for cesarean operation.
- having Gestational diabetes puts women at risk for developing full-blown Type 2 diabetes after giving birth.
Normalizing weight before pregnancy is one way of preventing developing diabetes during pregnancy. Overeating is no healthier during pregnancy than it is at any other time of life. A healthful vegetable-based diet is good at any time, particularly when feeding a passenger.
Most doctors prescribe prenatal vitamins, so it is not necessary to eat a lot to provide ample vitamins and minerals. Small or average portions of:
- legumes such as black beans, lima beans, black-eyed peas, or chickpeas
are good for helping to prevent spinal cord defects.
Dark green vegetables such as:
- spinach and broccoli
are good for providing iron and calcium for making new blood and bones.
Your doctor or dietitian can provide a sensible plan for getting proper nutrition during your pregnancy. Here's to your and your baby's good health.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making simple changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by high blood sugar and weight gain, and eliminate many of the complications you may already experience.
Comments
Post a Comment