During pregnancy, many women could possibly get diabetes, even if they have never had it before pregnancy; this is called Gestational Diabetes, but without a proper control and medical attention, it can cause problems for both mother and child. This type of diabetes occurs in pregnant women and is caused by an intolerance to carbohydrates, which causes blood sugar levels to increase. Dr. Karima Shmila, Consultant of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Health Center, at the International Medical Center, says that gestational diabetes usually occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy and disappears after birth, and in some cases may cause some women to develop hypertension, increases the incidence chance in women who had it before in their next pregnancy, and increases incidence rate of type II diabetes (adult diabetes) during their lives, which in turn requires following preventive ways under the supervision of the consultant of obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Karima also stressed on the possibility of high incidence rate of child born with congenital problems such as heart failure, and in some cases the child is born with a respiratory disease, where he/she faces breathing difficulty, and there is also a risk of infant death inside mother's womb or death at delivery, however, if the gestational diabetes discovered and controlled properly, the likelihood of death become rare. Dr. Karima confirms that the rise in blood sugar–if existed- is diagnosed in the period between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, and if the doctor have doubts about the likelihood of woman's risk of gestational diabetes, this examination may conducted before the passing of 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, and any woman, has a medical history that shows an increase in the risk of diabetes or uncertain about any symptoms she experience, should consult a doctor immediately. Dr. Karima concluded that, as for the treatment plan, the control of blood sugar levels is the most important part of the treatment process, therefore, women should perform periodic tests for blood sugar (glucose) levels; carefully select the right diet and physical exercise program, and also the regular use of home glucose meter devices. It is necessary to perform blood glucose several times a day, in addition to the routinely measurement of glucose in the morning before breakfast, two hours after breakfast, after lunch and dinner.
