Type 2 Diabetes - Searching For The Cause of Gestational Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes - Searching For The Cause of Gestational Diabetes

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Scientists at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Ontario Canada have reported on what could be the causes and potential prevention of Gestational diabetes or diabetes of pregnancy. In January of 2018, their work was published in the journal Placenta.

The placenta feeds the fetus and partly takes over control of the mother's blood sugar level. The mother develops slight insulin resistance, and this then causes her blood sugar level to rise to enable the fetus to get sufficient levels of sugar. In Gestational diabetes too much insulin resistance develops, raising blood sugar levels to a high and unhealthy level. The placenta makes two hormones...

placental lactogen (PL), and

placental variant growth hormone (GH-V),

for blood sugar control. GH-V makes muscles resistant to insulin while PL is anti-insulin. In obese and diabetic mothers the placenta produces the wrong amounts of both of these hormones. The mother's pancreas produces more beta cells to make insulin and counterbalance PL and GH-V. We do not know yet what makes more beta cells grow. It could be...

pancreatic cells capable of becoming beta cells are stimulated to develop, or

alpha cells in the pancreas might become beta cells.

If either mechanism can be activated, it could be used to prevent or treat Gestational diabetes. These potential treatments are far into the future, assuming they are feasible. In the meantime, women need to achieve and maintain a reasonable lean weight before pregnancy and gain only the amount recommended by their doctor or midwife. Physical activity is helpful as long as mothers do not...

bend forward,

perform exercises that require balance,

play contact sports,

take part in hopping, skipping, jumping, or running,

make sudden jarring movements,

make twisting movements especially of the abdominal area, or

exercise in hot, humid weather.

When the pregnant mother becomes out of breath, her baby is also out of breath, so then it is time for a break. Ask your doctor for assistance when planning a physical activity program. Mothers with high-risk pregnancies should not exercise.

A healthy eating plan with plenty of fruits and vegetables helps provide the required nutrients, as well as helping to control weight gain. Pregnant women are susceptible to constipation due to hormonal changes: internal muscles in the digestive system become lax, moving their contents slowly. The fiber in vegetables and fruits helps to move things along.

WebMD recommends the following exercises for pregnant women...

swimming,

walking,

indoor stationary cycling,

using an indoor stepper machine, or

doing low impact aerobics taught by a certified instructor.

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 - Searching For The Cause of Gestational Diabetes