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01648.txt
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1994-01-17
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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{}
Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.