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Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is any type of diabetes that appears during pregnancy. In 95 percent of the cases, the diabetes disappears after childbirth. For about 5% of the women, the diabetes remains after childbirth. Once a woman has had gestational diabetes, she's at risk for developing another form of diabetes (usually type II) later in life.
Gestational-diabetes symptoms are generally mild and not life threatening to the woman. It can, however, pose problems for the infant, including hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and respiratory-distress syndrome. Women with gestational diabetes are more susceptible than normal to developing toxemia, a life-threatening condition for both mother and child.
In most cases, diet and exercise can control gestational diabetes. However, some women may need to take insulin. |