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Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes


Symptoms of gestational diabetes may vary from one woman to another although most cases of gestational diabetes are asymptomatic. However, in some cases, the signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes include:

  • Weight Gain: This is one of the biggest indicators of gestational diabetes especially when the weight gain is above the recommended limit.  Excess weight gain especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy not only indicates the possibility of gestational diabetes but also increases the risk of developing this problem.
  • Excessive Thirst or Hunger: Pregnant women with gestational diabetes may tend to feel thirstier or hungrier than usual. High glucose levels in the blood can use up fluids from the body tissues resulting in dehydration and excessive thirst. Many women also experience constant dryness in their mouth because of this.
  • Frequent Urination: This is a classic symptom of diabetes in general and holds true even for gestational diabetes. If there is a high concentration of glucose in the urine, it leads to frequent urination and indicates gestational diabetes.
  • Fatigue: This is usually the result of dehydration caused by hyperglycemia. Even though fatigue is common during pregnancy, excessive tiredness causing the pregnant woman not being able to perform even routine activities may indicate gestational diabetes. This type of tiredness is usually more pronounced during the second trimester of pregnancy.
  • Blurry Vision: Some women with gestational diabetes experience blurry vision because of the accumulation of fluids in the eye’s retina. For most diabetic pregnant women, vision returns to normal after childbirth.
  • Increased Infections: Although it is common for pregnant women to develop infections during pregnancy, patients develop these infections frequently. Bladder infections may spread into the kidneys and cause serious complications. Therefore, any infections during pregnancy must be immediately reported to the doctor for timely treatment.
  • Nausea and Vomiting: Although this is a common symptom in most pregnancies, it may also be an indicator of gestational diabetes. This is especially true if women experience nausea and vomiting throughout the pregnancy.
It is important to pay attention to these early warning signs. Gestational diabetes is completely treatable. If left untreated, it may cause serious health complications for both the mother as well as the developing baby. 
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References
  1. Nian Wang, DeLing Zhang, XianQing Mao, Feng Zou, Huan Jin, JingPing Ouyang, Astragalus polysaccharides decreased the expression of PTP1B through relieving ER stress induced activation of ATF6 in a rat model of type 2 diabetes, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Volume 307, Issues 1–2, 13 August 2009, Pages 89-98, ISSN 0303-7207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2009.03.001.
  2. Ajaya K. Shetty, Paramahans V. Salimath, Reno-protective effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum greacum) during experimental diabetes, e-SPEN, the European e-Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2009, Pages e137-e142, ISSN 1751-4991, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eclnm.2009.02.002.