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Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
Does gestational diabetes affect my unborn baby?
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What ill affects can my gestational diabetes have on my unborn child? -
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Olga Lutzko
Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE), Diabetes Educator
At ‘Succeed in Diabetes’ we believe in helping you achieve your success in diabetes management. Olga has thirteen years experience in helping clients with insulin … View Profile
As gestational diabetes usually develops around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy, the baby’s development is not affected. As glucose crosses the placenta, the baby is exposed to the mother’s high glucose level. This high level of glucose in the baby’s blood stimulates the baby’s pancreas to produce extra insulin. The extra insulin causes the baby to grow bigger and fatter. The result of this may be a large baby that may need to be delivered early but may not be mature enough.
Another problem is that once the baby is born and no longer exposed to high glucose levels from the mother, low blood glucose may result shortly after birth as the baby’s system is immature and unable to adapt to this change.
When gestational diabetes is well controlled, these risks are greatly reduced.Report this post
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