Treatment For Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is different from diabetes that existed before a pregnancy which is commonly called pre-existing diabetes.

Gestational diabetes affects about four percent of pregnancies. Though the cause of gestational diabetes is not completely understood, a hormone that is produced that encourages the growth of the baby can inhibit the ability of the mother’s natural insulin to metabolize glucose.

Birth defects are not a risk of gestational diabetes since gestational diabetes occurs late in the pregnancy. Since gestational diabetes increases the baby’s size, the baby may be at increased risk of injury during birth.

Newborns of mothers who had gestational diabetes are prone to breathing problems. The newborns may also have very low blood glucose levels at birth and be susceptible to obesity and type II diabetes later in life.

Timed blood tests and consuming a glucose solution are part of testing for gestational diabetes. Typically, blood sample is drawn at the beginning of the test and one hour after the pregnant woman drinks a glucose solution. More blood tests after longer periods of time may also be done.

Diabetic diets are the first treatment for gestational diabetes. The obstetrician may have the pregnant woman with gestational diabetes meet with a dietician or nutritionist who will devise a diabetic diet.

The diabetic diet for gestational diabetes typically includes three meals and two snacks a day. The diabetic diet includes a variety of foods. The dietitian may give the pregnant woman in exchange list to use with the diabetic diet. The exchange list will have good suggestions and serving sizes for each of the food groups.

Checking blood sugar levels is an important part of managing gestational diabetes. The woman may be required to check her blood sugar levels multiple times a day and report the readings to the doctor’s office. If the gestational diabetes is not well managed, the pregnant woman may need to start taking insulin by injection.

It is not common for a woman or newborn to have diabetes immediately after birth. Women who have had gestational diabetes may be at increased risk of developing type II diabetes. With proper management, the effects of gestational diabetes on the mother and baby can be minimal.

The Affects of Hypoactive Thyroid during Pregnancy

Hypoactive thyroidism is an event that occurs when the thyroid gland does not respond to the pituitary gland. When this occurs, it is referred to as hypothyroidism and means insufficient hormones are being produced in response to the stimulating hormones of the pituitary gland. Unfortunately, this disease requires lifelong treatment in order to replace the hormones that are not being produced.

Thyroid hormones

The types of hormones released by the thyroid include:

Thyroxine (T4), which contains four atoms of iodine. Triiodothyronine (T3) has three atoms of iodine attached.

The livers job is to transform thyroxine to its active form called Triiodothyronine. The variation of these levels determines which thyroid disease is present. Both of these hormones work together to determine how much energy your body burns. A fluctuation of these hormones can affect both men and women in the areas of sleep, weight, menstrual changes and erectile dysfunction.

Another type of hormone present in this process is TSH or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which is released by the pituitary gland. If the TSH levels are too low, the thyroid is stimulated to produce and secrete additional amounts of hormones.

Symptoms:

There are some symptoms of hypothyroidism that can often be overlooked or mimic other conditions. These are commonly referred to as Subclinical hypothyroidism and include:

Fatigue Intolerance to cold Dry and/or pale skin Hair loss and brittle nails sore muscles, slow movements and weakness Hoarse voice a change in facial expression Depression Memory deficits and difficulty in concentrating Increased weight Constipation fertility problems and increased risk of miscarriage heavy, irregular or prolonged menstrual periods Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

A goiter is described as a swelling of one or both lobes on either side of the thyroid gland. These are generally located on the lower aspect of the neck and appear as an enlargement.

Causes:

Hypothyroidism is more common in older people. Women are more likely to be affected than men. Autoimmune conditions such as diabetes, vitiligo, and Addison’s disease. Certain medications, such as lithium carbonate (psychotropic med) and amiodarone (for the heart) Inefficient amount of iodine Autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis Problems with hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

Testing of the blood for TSH levels and thyroid hormone levels are used to determine hypothyroidism. Typically, a diagnosis of Autoimmune Hypothyroidism is determined by the presence of certain antibodies in the blood.

Treatment:

In order to treat hypothyroidism, all that is required is taking an oral medication called levothyroxine. In order to get the correct dosage, a medical professional will need to monitor you with regular blood tests and fluctuation of medication until the optimum dosage is reached. Once the dosage is determined, once yearly blood tests will allow your healthcare provider to ensure proper hormone levels are being maintained.

Unborn babies do not develop thyroid hormones until their twelth week. For this reason, a mother’s thyroid hormone is essential for nervous system development of the unborn fetus. Mother’s who must take thyroid medications can feel confident in continuing their treatment during pregnant. After all, it is important for the mother’s health as well as for her baby’s.

If someone diagnosed with hypoactive thyroid wishes to have a child, they should inform their healthcare provider. This will ensure that the patients health is at optimum performance.