Pregnancy and diabetes - Expert Advice on Health and Fitness - Brief Article

Q I am so excited because I'm pregnant with our first child, which is due in a couple of months. During my pregnancy, I have gained a lot of weight and some of my friends say I should be concerned about the onset of diabetes. Before getting pregnant, I did a lot of research, but I didn't come across anything about diabetes being associated with pregnancy. Can I be in some serious trouble with this pregnancy? What should I know about diabetes as it relates to pregnancy? D.W., Oakland, Calif.

A Doctors say about 3 to 6 percent of all pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes, which occurs in non-diabetic women. It usually begins 24 to 28 weeks into the pregnancy and usually disappears shortly after the birth of the baby.

The main problem in this form of the disease is insulin resistance. In gestational diabetes, the mother-to-be produces the proper amount of insulin, but its effects are lessened by a variety of other hormones (including estrogen, progesterone, prolactin and human placental lactogen) made in the placenta. As the placenta grows, more of these hormones are produced and the insulin resistance becomes greater. Doctors say when the pancreas produces all the insulin it can and still can't overcome the effect of those hormones, gestational diabetes results.

Pregnant women who are over 30, obese, have a family history of diabetes and have previously given birth to a very large child are among those who are most at risk to develop the condition. Once the condition is identified, treatment includes exercise, weight-watching and eating a carefully planned diet that will help the blood sugar level stay within the normal range (60 to 120mg/dl).