Gestational Diabetes Research Paper

Along with all the worries and complications a woman might face while pregnant, one of the more serious conditions is gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs in 4% of all pregnancies (Seibel, 2009). Many women are not informed about the disease, some may not know that they need to be tested, and others may have heard about it, but want more information on what may cause it and/or how to prevent and treat it. Either way this disease needs to be taken seriously by every pregnant woman or woman planning to get pregnant to protect not only herself but the unborn child.

Most pregnancies progress with the mother being healthy, however in some cases problems do arise with the mother developing complications. This can in the form of gestational diabetes. Mothers who didn’t have diabetes prior to pregnancy exhibit high blood sugar levels, in most cases this is during the later stages of pregnancy, this could lead to pre-eclampsia and babies could be born with higher birth weights. If left unchecked mothers can develop type 2 diabetes post pregnancy.

Unlike type 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes isn’t permanent. It affects women when they are pregnant and usually ends after the baby is delivered (1, 8). The main causes of gestational diabetes are damage to insulin producing cells, resistance to insulin and genetic heredity. Also, it is believed that women that get gestational diabetes will have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (1, 8).

The Gestational Diabetes Act is a bill that amends the Public Health Service Act (Congress.gov., 2015). This act emphasizes on the National Vital Statistics System, the National Center for Health Statistics, and State health departments to monitor and collect data on GDM. Regarding babies born from mothers with GDM, those diagnosed and undiagnosed with GDM. Finding ways to track and monitor postpartum women with GDM, implementing interventions that are culturally sensitive to reduce the risk of developing GDM and complications. The act also focuses on clinical and public health research on GDM to find interventions for women with a history of GDM from developing DM II as well as their children. Research on understanding GDM regarding risk

Gestational diabetes, which is much less common, only occurs during pregnancy and is caused by a resistance to the actions of insulin brought on by the hormones a woman’s body releases during pregnancy (WHO 2011, p. 2). Once diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus you are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life (Zimmet & Magliano 2011). For this reason it is particularly important to use preventative measures and consistent health checks.

In gestational diabetes, this type of diabetes develops in women only during pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant there are a surge of varied hormones that are produced. These hormones sometimes lead to a pregnant woman developing resistance to the insulin just like the other two types of diabetes. It also comes about because the body cannot use the insulin that is produced, effectively. This usually affects a woman in her second trimester and goes away after the birth of the baby. Developing GD can put a woman at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in her life or developing GD with every pregnancy that follows. It can also lead to certain health problems in their children like childhood obesity or the risk of developing diabetes in later life.

“Diabetes Mellitus is a disease that is characterized by chronic hypoglycemia” (ATI 2011). There are three classifications of Diabetes; Type One is classified as "juvenile-onset" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes. This type of diabetes does is where the immune system destroys cells that release insulin, eliminating the production of insulin in the body. Without insulin, cells can 't absorb the sugar in the body; sugars are used to make energy by the body. Secondly, Type Two diabetes is classified as "adult-onset" or "non-insulin dependent diabetes. This type of diabetes can develop at any age, and is usually based on lifestyle choices. In Type Two, the body isn’t able to make use of the insulin that is currently being produced, which is classified as resistance of insulin. As this disease progresses, the pancreas will produce less insulin, causing a deficiency. Thirdly, Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnancy. It is situational diabetes when the development of the fetus blocks the production of insulin by the pancreas.

Caring for yourself during your pregnancy when you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus) means keeping your blood sugar (glucose) under control with a balance of:

Diabetes has been established to be more precarious for women, as it can augment pregnancy complications such as macrosomia, miscarriage, and birth defects. Women with diabetes also have a higher prevalence of secondary cardiovascular disease. Among those women who continue in the spiral of diabetes complications, ischemic heart disease is an even greater complication which will reduce survival and quality of life (Beckles and Thompson-Reid, 2011). Pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in their lifetime. It has been proven that an average of 25 percent of pregnant women with GDM will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within an average of seven years (Sokup, Ruszkowska-Ciatec, Walentowicz, Grabiec & Rose, 2014). In such women, blood glucose and triglyceride levels must be monitored closely, and appropriate action and referrals are given if needed for proper disease management.

To get even more specific, a study was done about the sole issue of the number of stillbirths that result in diabetic pregnancies. Using pregnancies from 1990-2000, researchers analyzed characteristics of the pregnancy: the mother, her control over her diabetes, the pregnancy itself, and the still born. Looking through 1300 women, 25 stillbirths were found among 22 women. Within those stillbirths, 9 were caused by poor glycemic control, with the rest due to explainable (smoking, poor environment, diabetic nephropathy etc) or unexplainable causes.

Gestational Diabetes: This is often found in pregnant women who have never had an incidence of high blood sugar or a history of diabetes. It is characterized by high levels of blood glucose during pregnancy but normal blood glucose levels after pregnancy if controlled right (WHO,

Kansas City is a very diverse place where there are many cultures who live in the melting pot of the city. With different cultures comes different lifestyles that affects a person’s overall health. It so happens to be that obesity, unhealthy eating, and not enough physical exercise has led to a substantial increase in diabetes, making it the number seventh leading cause of death (American Diabetes Association, 2014, p. Diabetes Basics). Diabetes also called diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease in which the body’s inability to produce any or enough insulin causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood (Google, What is Diabetes). There is three type of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 is mostly seen in juvenile, where they become insulin dependent because the body immune system attacks the pancreas (Diabetes Research Institute, 2014, p. What is Type 1 Diabetes?). Type 2, which account for 90% of cases is seen in those who are obese, who have a family history, who are older and have unhealthy eating lifestyles, is when the body doesn 't know how to use the energy efficiently to process sugar Google, What is Diabetes; Center for Disease Control, p.2). Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy when there is higher levels of sugar and normally goes away afterwards. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, p.2). We will briefly explore the epidemiology surrounding diabetes, how it’s impacting the metro area as well as its effects on the body.

Gestational diabetes may lead to problems for the baby after birth; they could suffer with

Society looks at Pregnancy as an amazing and exciting time for women and their families. However women diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus can experience an increased amount of stressors not only physical but, emotionally and socially. Physically GDM causes increased blood sugar levels which can have dangerous and harmful effects on both mother and infant. New to be mothers can have a hard time understanding and coping with their pregnancy and condition if not supported correctly by healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should use a women-centred approach when delivering maternity care as it empowers women in the self-management of their care. This essay will discus in further detail the aspects of GDM, including the

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an intolerance of glucose documented for the first time during pregnancy. It is usually a short-term type of diabetes and the most common health problem with pregnant women. GBM is caused by the way the hormones in pregnancy affect the mother. GDM accounts for 5-7% of all pregnancies (American Diabetes Association, 2010). During pregnancy the placenta develops and becomes the main bond between the mother and the baby. It is used to make sure the baby has and gets enough nutrients. The placenta makes several hormones which make it hard for insulin to control blood glucose and block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body (American Diabetes Association, 2010). Hormonal changes during the