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- $Unique_ID{BRK01648}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Diabetes During Pregnancy}
- $Subject{pregnancy diabetes Pregnancies Childbirth baby gestational child
- birth births glucose sugar sugars blood diet insulin injections Pregnant
- babies insulins injection diabetic diabetics hormone hormonal hormones}
- $Volume{K-22}
- $Log{}
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- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Diabetes During Pregnancy
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- QUESTION: My daughter is soon to have a baby, but now her doctor has told her
- she has a diabetes that sometimes comes with pregnancy. She has no symptoms
- and feels fine. Can you tell me how the doctor could have found out about
- this problem, and how my daughter can be helped?
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- ANSWER: Diabetes during pregnancy is called "gestational" diabetes. It
- usually is limited to the time a woman is carrying a baby, especially the
- later months. Only 2 percent to 6 percent of all pregnant women develop
- gestational diabetes, and you're right in saying that it has few or no
- symptoms, but it is a serious problem for both mother and child. It can lead
- to a low birth weight baby and a riskier delivery.
- The best way to detect gestational diabetes is through a glucose
- screening test done during the sixth month of pregnancy. This will show the
- amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood after the woman drinks a
- glucose solution. If the results of the test are high, the doctor may use
- further tests for blood glucose after fasting and glucose loading.
- Gestational diabetes is controlled with a special diet and, in some
- cases, with insulin injections, which are safe during pregnancy because
- insulin is a normal body chemical.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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