[Gestational diabetes] What are the symptoms? Will it affect the baby if you develop it?

Expectant mothers who are planning to conceive, or are already pregnant, will certainly hope that their babies are healthy and well. As such, during both the preconception and pregnancy periods, they pay particular attention to getting sufficient nutrition. However, eating more does not mean eating better. If a pregnant woman’s nutrition is not well balanced, or if she over-supplements, she may actually increase her risk of gestational diabetes. Many expectant mothers will have heard of gestational diabetes, but what exactly are its causes and symptoms? What are its characteristics? Who is at higher risk? What is the diagnostic threshold for gestational diabetes? How can it be prevented? And if one is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, will it affect the foetus? The article below explains gestational diabetes to help everyone supplement in the right way.

According to information from the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK and the Family Planning Association, gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, usually occurring between the fifth and sixth month of pregnancy. During pregnancy, an expectant mother’s blood sugar level generally rises slightly to provide nutrition for the foetus, but hormonal changes may also affect insulin function. As a result, the body is unable to convert the sugar supplied by food into energy, and excess sugar accumulates in the blood, causing high blood sugar and thereby leading to gestational diabetes.

According to the World Health Organization’s guidelines, gestational diabetes is diagnosed when blood glucose levels exceed the following thresholds:

Gestational diabetes usually has no obvious symptoms. However, if an expectant mother experiences the following, she may have gestational diabetes.

• Increased appetite
• Frequent urination
• Weight loss instead of weight gain
• Urine glucose test during antenatal check-ups is positive despite eating only a small amount

Asians are inherently at high risk of diabetes. According to information from the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK and the Family Planning Association, if an expectant mother has any of the following risk factors, the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes will increase:

• Obesity (body mass index, BMI, above 25 before pregnancy)     
• Advanced maternal age (35 or above)     
• Family history of diabetes     
• Poor dietary habits (large portions, high-calorie, greasy foods) and lack of exercise     
• Previously gave birth to a baby weighing over 4 kg     Multiple pregnancies

Gestational diabetes can lead to pre-eclampsia, excessive foetal growth, premature birth and polyhydramnios. Pregnant women may need to undergo a caesarean section earlier than planned; their children may also face a higher risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease or other chronic conditions later in life.

A study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Medicine found that if a mother had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, her child was three times more likely than other children of the same age to show pre-diabetic symptoms or develop diabetes at around the age of seven, while the risk of being overweight or obese also increased by 50%.

Antenatal check-ups generally already include a basic urine glucose dipstick test, but this test can only serve as an initial reference. To confirm whether gestational diabetes is present, you will need to undergo the oral glucose tolerance test, commonly known as the “sugar water test”, which measures blood glucose levels in a fasting state. A professor of obstetrics and gynaecology has suggested that all pregnant women should consider taking the oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to screen for gestational diabetes. The following are the sugar water test readings for pregnant women:

If any one of the readings is above the threshold, it indicates gestational diabetes and further blood glucose monitoring and management are required.
 

To ensure that the foetus in the womb receives sufficient nutrients, expectant mothers generally eat a little more than before pregnancy. An obstetrics and gynaecology professor has reminded pregnant women not to overindulge in tonic foods, overeat or have a sweet tooth. They should maintain healthy eating and lifestyle habits and exercise regularly to help prevent gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes can lead to serious consequences, but expectant mothers need not worry too much. Once diagnosed, the most important thing is to actively undergo treatment, including stabilising blood sugar through adjustments to diet and exercise habits. To help pregnant women with gestational diabetes plan a healthy menu, the Family Planning Association recommends the following basic principles:

• Eat little and often       
• Keep meals as light as possible, with less sugar and salt, less gravy, and fewer fried foods.
• Follow the nutritionist’s advice on food groups and portion sizes to ensure adequate and balanced nutrition while keeping blood sugar levels under control. For example, in daily meals, moderately increase high-fibre vegetables and whole grains, and reduce intake of refined carbohydrates.

Actively receiving treatment is very important for the health of both mother and baby, and a light diet helps avoid excessive calories and sugar intake, effectively stabilising blood sugar. Combined with appropriate exercise, it can better manage the condition. A professor of obstetrics and gynaecology has pointed out that, in addition to improving dietary habits, some pregnant women with gestational diabetes need to inject insulin to control blood sugar levels and reduce the long-term risks of gestational diabetes to the next generation. The professor added that insulin does not cross the placenta to affect the foetus.

An internal medicine professor has pointed out that for most women with gestational diabetes, blood glucose levels return to normal after delivery. However, for some, blood glucose levels do not fall after childbirth and develop into diabetes. Therefore, women who have had gestational diabetes should undergo regular health check-ups. It is recommended that they have their blood glucose levels tested every one to three years, and they should also pay attention to their daily eating habits and changes in body weight.

This largely depends on the type of insurance mothers have taken out and the time of purchase. If it is pregnancy insurance sold on the market specifically for expectant mothers, its coverage is limited to specified pregnancy complications, and gestational diabetes is currently not covered. In other words, if an expectant mother unfortunately develops gestational diabetes, even if she has already purchased pregnancy insurance before diagnosis, the insurer will not cover the medical expenses related to gestational diabetes.

However, if the mother has recovered from gestational diabetes after giving birth and wishes to purchase other medical insurance, she may declare her history of diabetes and provide relevant medical certification documents to the insurer at that time. If her health condition is certified as healthy, the insurer is very likely to treat it as a standard application case. In general, there will be no additional underwriting restrictions or higher premiums. If you would like to learn more or have any questions, please feel free to consult a 10Life insurance adviser.

Further reading:
【Caesarean delivery】A clear guide to public and private hospital delivery charges and procedures 
【Postnatal depression】Is there an incubation period? Understand the causes, symptoms and treatments of postpartum depression
【Travelling while pregnant】Planning a babymoon? Check out these travel tips and precautions 
 

Source: Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Family Planning Association of Hong Kong; The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Yang Wo

Last updated on: 3 October 2024.  

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.