Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects pregnant women.

If you are pregnant, you should be aware of the signs of gestational diabetes so that you can seek medical attention immediately.

Although you may not have diabetes and may never have diabetes over the span of your life, you may be at risk for developing gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is a condition where you body fails to covert sugar properly.

This excess sugar builds up in the body and can be potentially fatal if left unchecked. Although this condition can be caused by genetic disposition, diet, and other outside factors, women who are pregnant are also at risk for a unique form of the disease.

Typically, when the baby is born, the diabetes will disappear and may not appear if you become pregnant with another child.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

Approximately one in 25 pregnant women is affected by gestational diabetes.

Typically, this type of diabetes will occur during the last three months of the pregnancy , but may potentially occur before that time.

The surge of hormones that are present while you are pregnant can completely change your body chemistry.

Furthermore, these hormones can make someone who has never had any problems converting sugars in their body suddenly unable to do so properly.

The specific hormones that are believed to be the root cause of the problem come from the placenta.

Although not all women are likely to develop gestational diabetes, you may be more at risk if you are overweight or expecting over the age of 30.

Signs Of Gestational Diabetes

The most common signs associated with gestational diabetes are extreme hunger and thirst .

Although a growling stomach is certainly no stranger to a pregnant woman, any extreme feelings may be signs of a problem.

Associated with the increased liquid intake is an increased urinary output. Again, this is a common complaint for pregnant women, but any extreme urination should be noted.

Other symptoms include blurred vision and excess weight gain.

If you believe that you are suffering from any of these symptoms, contact your obstetrician.

He or she will run a test to see whether or not you have developed gestational diabetes.

What To Do After Diagnosis

If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, consider reading up on the disease itself.

Education is the key to acceptance and can make a condition that seems scary very livable, at least until the birth of your child.

Typically, women with mild cases of gestational diabetes can control the condition with a proper diet that is prescribed by your physician.

Be sure to understand which foods can cause problems with the condition and avoid them if at all possible.

If you have been diagnosed with a more serious case of gestational diabetes, you may need to have daily injections of insulin and test your blood sugar regularly.

Especially with women who need to use insulin injections, the threat of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia is especially dangerous.

For this reason, carry the appropriate items, including insulin syringes and sugared candies with you at all times.

If you feel the onset of either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, immediately call 911 or head straight to your local hospital.