If you’ve ever been pregnant, you know that it involves many things – getting prepared mentally and physically, changing certain lifestyle habits, and possibly re-decorating a room in your house with teddy-bear wall-paper. Sometimes you might experience a bump or two on the road to delivery and unfortunately the bumps you encounter along the way aren’t always pleasant. In fact, there’s a threat that many moms-to-be may not even know about . . . gestational diabetes. Let’s take a look at this possibly harmful pregnancy complication.

What is gestational diabetes?
As in other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes also affects the way your body uses sugar to fuel itself and keep your external systems running smoothly. When the levels of blood sugar get too high, the pregnant woman can experience excessive thirst or an increased need to urinate. However, many women with gestational diabetes often experience no outward or obvious symptoms.

Gestational diabetes occurs when the hormones pregnant women produce make the cells in the body more resistant to insulin. As a result, the pancreas makes more insulin in an attempt to counteract the resistance. When the pancreas fails to keep up the pace, excess glucose remains in the blood and causes gestational diabetes.

Who is at risk?
Gestational diabetes is typically diagnosed around the 20th week of pregnancy, but it can develop at any time. Women who are over the age of 25 are more likely to have gestational diabetes, as are women who have pre-diabetes or have a family member who was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. If you had a baby before and were diagnosed during that pregnancy, you’re more likely to have it again. Also, being overweight is another risk factor. African-Americans, American Indians and Asians have an increased risk.

Will it last forever?
Any pregnancy complication is a cause for concern, but gestational diabetes is a temporary condition and blood glucose levels generally return to normal after the baby is born. If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you can manage your condition by eating well-balanced meals, exercising frequently and taking medication if your doctor deems it necessary.

Being aware of gestational diabetes is just one more thing you can add to your “before baby” preparation list. And, before you know it, your little bundle of joy (or bundles of joy) will be here. Then comes the post-pregnancy complication you might not have been prepared for . . . lack of sleep.