Approximately 7% of women that carry a pregnancy to term develop Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy. The incidence of Gestational Diabetes doubled from 1992 to 2004. No one understands why this has occurred except that the incidence of obesity increased tremendously during this same period of time. Type II diabetes has a incidence of developing between 15 to 60 percent 5 to 15 years after patients have had gestational diabetes. The three risk factors that indicate who will develop Type II diabetes are 1) BMI >27, 2) developing gestational diabetes before 24 weeks gestation, and 3) the use of insulin or not during pregnancy.
Sugars not controlled during pregnancy can lead to fetal abnormalities, fetal macrosomia (large fetus), hypoglycemia (low blood sugars), hyperbilirubinemia (elevated bilirubin) which can cause damage to the infant’s brain, and pulmonary ( lung) immaturity. These problems are reduced tremendously when blood sugars are kept under control.
Normally the way sugars are kept under control are diet, exercise, insulin, and glyburide. There are other alternative treatments that show promise and have minimal side effects:
1) Cinnamon
2) Chromium Piccolinate
3) Bitter Melon
4) Cane Sugar
5) Alpha Lipoic Acid
