Gestational Diabetes Risks Factors

Cause & Risk Factors

No one is exactly sure what causes GDM, but it most likely is due to high levels of certain hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy. These hormones block the action of insulin, which can then lead to GDM. GDM poses risks to both mother and baby. Since GDM does not occur until after the first trimester of pregnancy, generally birth defects are not a concern. However, there are risks if blood sugars remain too high or are uncontrolled. Such risks include the following: RISK TO THE BABY:

1. Above normal birth weight. High blood sugar levels may cause a baby to grow bigger than expected. This is a condition called macrosomia. A large baby can cause a more difficult delivery for both mother and infant.
2. Trouble breathing. After delivery, babies born to mothers with uncontrolled GDM may have trouble breathing due to immature lungs.
3. Jaundice. A baby could also have a fast drop in his blood sugar level after birth, or be born with jaundice.
4. Potential issues with Obesity. Children born to mothers with GDM are more likely to become overweight or obese, and have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

RISK TO THE MOTHER:

1. Possible Cesarean. C-section deliveries are more common because of the complications involved when birthing a larger baby. Non-c-section deliveries of larger babies can result in the baby getting stuck in the birth canal or sometimes there is bone or nerve damage that may occur.
2. Increased risk of Preeclampsia. If you have high blood sugar levels, you also have increased risk of preeclampsia, a serious condition that can develop during pregnancy that causes high blood pressure, swelling, and protein in the urine.
3. May occur in future pregnancies. You are more likely to develop GDM in future pregnancies, and there is also a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Most importantly, the best thing you can do to prevent these risks to you and your baby is to control your blood sugar levels by working with your doctor and health care team. See also TREATMENT for more information.

Following a treatment plan administered by your health care professional can help prevent the complications associated with GDM. The key to managing and avoiding complications is carefully controlling blood glucose levels as soon as the diagnosis is made and this is most commonly done by altering your DIET.

GDM generally does not cause birth defects, as it typically affects the mother in late pregnancy after the baby?ˉs body has been formed. However, if left untreated, other serious complications can occur for both mother and baby. In gestational diabetes, insulin does not enter the placenta, but the extra glucose your body is producing does, which causes the pancreas of the fetus to produce more insulin in an attempt to use the glucose. Since the baby cannot use all of this extra energy, the additional glucose is converted into fat causing the baby to grow excessively large, a condition known as macrosomia. At birth, these babies also have a high risk of breathing problems and have very low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia). Later in life, they have an increased risk for developing childhood and adult obesity and type 2 diabetes.

We know that women who meet all of the following criteria have a very low possibility of developing GDM:

1. less than 25 years old at the time of the pregnancy.
2. at a normal body weight.
3. No family history of any type of diabetes in parents, brothers or sisters.
4. No personal history of high blood sugar levels.
5. are not members of groups with a high risk of diabetes: Hispanic American, Native American, Asian American, African American, Pacific Islander.

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

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