Blood sugar measurement, medication intake and insulin - this accounts for approximately  7.2 percent  of adults aged 18 to 79 in Germany are confronted with this problem every day. Diabetes, or “sugar diabetes”, may already be a familiar term to you, right? But what many people  have not heard of yet, is the so-called  Gestational diabetes , in technical jargon also  Gestational diabetes  This form of diabetes first occurs during pregnancy. Why it occurs, what you can do about it and everything else you need to know about gestational diabetes can be found here. 

How does this come about?  Metabolic disorder  called gestational diabetes? Pregnancy brings about a number of changes in the body, which are usually positive and pleasant to observe. Not only does the child in the womb change every day, but various changes also take place in the body of the pregnant person - including the hormonal balance in the metabolism. This can have various effects on the body: It can happen that the body's cells no longer react quite as sensitively to the hormone insulin - a  Insulin resistance  can occur. In addition, the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin to compensate for this resistance. 
You may now be wondering what insulin is actually needed for. It ensures that sugar (glucose) can get from the blood into the body's cells. If there is not enough insulin, the sugar stays in the blood and the blood sugar level rises accordingly. If a certain value is constantly exceeded, it is diabetes. 

First of all, there is no need to worry: Most people who suffer from gestational diabetes experience a normal pregnancy and have a healthy child. It is also the case that blood sugar levels usually return to normal quickly after pregnancy. However, you should know that the risk of  Type 2 diabetes  in people who have had gestational diabetes, the risk is increased after pregnancy. A long period of breastfeeding can help reduce the risk. In any case, however, it is important that those affected do a glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after birth. Annual check-ups should also be carried out. 
Nevertheless, there are certain  Risks to which people with gestational diabetes are exposed.These can include preeclampsia (pregnancy poisoning), vaginal infections or bleeding. This can lead to premature birth, a child that is too heavy at birth or birth complications. But as I said, this is rarely the case.

Are you not sure whether you might have gestational diabetes? Then we would like to inform you about the possible symptoms of this type of diabetes. However, you cannot avoid having your doctor examine you and it is important in any case! 
At first, people with gestational diabetes may not notice any symptoms. Usually, it is only a very high blood sugar level that causes  Symptoms  such as increased thirst or extreme tiredness. When you see symptoms like this, many people think “Oh, that will be normal during pregnancy” - yes, it can, but it doesn’t have to be. General weakness and frequent urination can also be a sign of gestational diabetes. Therefore, we appeal to you once again to have any unusual symptoms checked out by a doctor.  Sugar tests  It can then be quickly determined whether the symptoms are due to diabetes.  

Gestational diabetes is usually easy to manage - a little  Movement  and a change in the  Nutrition  are often enough to lower blood sugar levels. This will probably also reduce the risk of birth complications. Nutritional advice can also be helpful here. The following applies to diabetes during pregnancy: Care must be taken to ensure that blood sugar does not rise sharply or quickly after eating. Blood sugar should always be monitored and checked regularly - usually four times a day. The checks can be carried out easily at home using a blood glucose meter. It is advisable to document blood sugar levels so that you can always keep an eye on any changes. In terms of exercise, even a short walk in the fresh air can work wonders. 

Treating diabetes with insulin is usually not necessary - only around 1 in 4 people with gestational diabetes need to use insulin. Insulin is only used if you are unable to keep your blood sugar levels under control despite changing your diet and exercising. Of course, your doctor will inform you about other treatment options - a referral to a diabetes specialist may also be helpful. 

In general, it is important to always keep an eye on blood sugar levels in gestational diabetes. The key word is:  low-sugar, balanced diet Whole grain products, vegetables and legumes should be on thedays Whole grain products are real helpers, because they allow the sugar they contain to find its way into the bloodstream only slowly. 
Of course, there are also products that should be off-limits if you have gestational diabetes. These include sweets, sugary drinks and high-fat dairy products. You should also stay away from ready meals that are particularly high in salt.  Saturated fats , especially those made from animal products, should also be avoided. 

You may be wondering whether you are to blame for gestational diabetes. Dr. Dirk Lammers, a diabetologist from Münster, emphasizes clearly: “It is not the woman’s fault.” There are not many ways to prevent gestational diabetes. However, there are a few Risk factors that could promote gestational diabetes, including obesity, PCOS or a genetic predisposition to gestational diabetes. Smoking both before and during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes.