Gestational diabetes may have serious implications for a newborn. Let’s take a look at what threats gestational diabetes may have on baby.
To begin with, high blood sugar levels in a pregnant woman can be passed on to the baby that would then result in high glucose levels which convert to fat. If a baby is born with an excess amount of insulin, then diabetes may become the end result.
According to the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetes may be inherited and a baby may be born with a genetic predisposition to developing diabetes through its mother. They cite these statistics: “Some scientists believe that a child’s risk is greater when the parent with type 2 diabetes is the mother. If both you and your partner have type 2 diabetes, your child’s risk is about 1 in 2.”
Another factor is that if a woman has gestational diabetes, the insulin may pass through the mother to the baby via the placenta and the baby would develop high blood sugar levels which would ultimately contribute to a higher weight in newborns. Newborns that are significantly fatter at birth may be at risk of becoming obese in later years.
Thus, it is important that moms-to-be are checked regularly to ascertain if their blood sugar levels have increased. If so, the pregnant woman would begin a treatment including a specific diet and exercise program which is designed to keep the glucose level maintained.
While it should be noted that gestational diabetes may dissipate after the birth of the baby, there is also a risk that the mother may develop diabetes later in life. However, there is uncertainty as to whether or not this is actually the case.
Pregnant women are urged to stick to an appropriate diet and exercise program that may prevent the onset of gestational diabetes.
Although there are claims that diabetes may be more prevalent through the maternal side of the family and that gestational diabetes may lead to type 2 diabetes, early diagnosis and treatment of this condition will result in a healthy pregnancy and ultimately a healthy baby as well.
