Type 2 Diabetes - What Does the Mother Having Gestational Diabetes Mean to the Child Years Later?

Type 2 Diabetes - What Does the Mother Having Gestational Diabetes Mean to the Child Years Later?

By Beverleigh H Piepers

According to a study performed at the Laval University in Quebec, Canada, children of Gestational diabetic pregnancies have more belly fat than children from a regular pregnancy. The study was reported on in December of 2017 in the journal Clinical Obesity.

A total of 56 children from mothers diagnosed with Gestational diabetes during their pregnancy and 30 from non-diabetic pregnancies, were examined. The average age of the children was 6.6 years. Children of Gestationally diabetic mothers had a higher amount of fat in general and a higher amount of fat around their waist, as well as higher HbA1c levels than children from non-diabetic pregnancies.

Newborns from Gestationally diabetic pregnancies can have macrosomia or obesity at birth. Blood sugar from the mother enters the baby's blood through the placenta and turns to fat, just as it can in an adult. Surprisingly, infants can be born with low blood sugar if they receive too much sugar in the womb. This is because their pancreas, sensing high blood sugar, can make high amounts of insulin. Infants of mothers diagnosed with diabetes during their pregnancy can be born prematurely, with immature lungs. When that happens, they can suffer respiratory distress syndrome, a severe condition that makes it hard for them to breathe.

Gestational diabetes and obesity in mothers are also thought to cause...

1. Neural tube defects -

Anencephaly - the absence of a significant portion of the brain, skull, and scalp that occurs during the early weeks of embryonic development.

Spina bifida - the back bones (vertebrae) do not close entirely, and the baby is born with part of its spinal cord outside his or her body.

2. Hydrocephaly - spinal fluid is unable to drain from the brain to the spinal cord, causing pressure on, and damage to the brain

3. Holoprosencephaly - a severe defect caused by malformation of the face and front of the brain

To prevent developing diabetes during pregnancy, it is essential to achieve and maintain a healthy weight before conception. Gain only the amount of weight recommended by your doctor or midwife, bearing in mind most weight gain should take place during the last three months of pregnancy. Physical activity is helpful for maintaining a healthy weight and for preparing the body for the stress of childbirth.

A healthy body mass index (BMI) ranges between 18.5 to 24.9. To calculate your BMI go to the National Institute of Health (NIH) website and fill your height and weight into the calculator. If your BMI is too high visit your doctor for preconception advice on how to lower your body weight.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years, Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of    available information but in yourself.

Article Source: Type 2 Diabetes - What Does the Mother Having Gestational Diabetes Mean to the Child Years Later?