Gestational Diabetes Flashcards
Counsel this woman on gestational diabetes
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To manage your condition, we will involve the endocrinologist, pediatrician, dietitian, together with the obstetrician to manage you during the course of your pregnancy and delivery.
You will be commenced on Insulin treatment to control your blood sugar
You will be attending antenatal visit every 2 weeks until 32 wks then every week until delivery
Your diet will be supervised closely
Your blood glucose will be monitored closely
I also advise you to get glucometer so you can also regularly check up at home .
An early ultrasound will be done in your 1st trimester or as soon as possible to date the pregnancy. Another scan will be done at 16 to 20 weeks to rule out any abnormalities
Your delivery will be monitored closely and a pediatrician will be there on standby for your baby
After delivery, you will be monitored closely up to 6 weeks and possibly beyond and your insulin medication will be reduced according to blood sugar reading.
Empathy
Despite all this risk associated with DM in pregnancy, with well controlled blood sugar, you will have a normal pregnancy and delivery of a healthy baby
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Well done ma
So we will commence you on insulin and you will keep a detailed record of your blood sugar and bring it to your next antenatal visit
Thank you ma
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During late pregnancy certain hormones are produced (cortiso prolactin human placenta lactogen\ which counter the effect of a hormone that balances our blood sugar ( insulin) that is why the blood glucose is high during the late pregnancy in some women, leading to gestational diabetes, this high blood glucose can also pass the placenia . leading to an increase in the baby’s blood alucose
Clinical Symptoms
Pregnant woman who are newly diagnosed with diabetes usually do not present with symptoms and this diabetes is usually pick up by routine investigations in their antenatal visits
However some may present with symptoms lIke excessive thirst. excessive urination. abdominal pain
Complications
Poorly controlled blood sugar can affect both mother and child
To the mother is could cause diabetic hyperglycemic emergency , increase her risk of infection, damage to the eyes and kidney, preterm labor, increase risk of still birth, prolong labor and increase risk of c section
To the baby, it can cause fetal abnormality, abnormal increase in size of the baby (macrosomia) jaundice, increase blood level ( polycythemia)
