Obese kids for diabetic moms

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as "Any degree of glucose intolerance during pregnancy". It is one of the most common health problems faced by pregnant women. It usually develops in the middle of the pregnancy, between the 24th and 28th weeks, when hormones interfere with the mother's ability to use insulin. As the pregnancy progresses, the insulin resistance worsens and blood sugar levels increase further.A There are many risks associated with diabetes during and after pregnancy for both the mother and child. Current standard practice for women with gestational diabetes involves up to seven finger-prick blood based tests per day. While this information is useful in patient management, it does not capture an accurate ongoing record of the subject's glucose levels at all points during the day. Endocrinologists say that failure to comply with the norms of keeping blood sugar under control and poor control of it can be grievous to the mother and the foetus. The risk of caesarean section, pre-eclampsia and perineal trauma is increased for the mother during pregnancy. During the post natal period, the mother with GDM has an increased risk of developing Type II diabetes, and with each additional pregnancy the risk of developing Type II diabetes increases. For the infant of a GDM mother, there is also an increased risk of injury, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, hypoglycaemia and jaundice. In addition, there is also an increased risk of the infant becoming obese or developing diabetes later in life. ''If a patient with diabetes is planning pregnancy or a patient with newly identified Gestational Diabetes, it is absolutely vital that blood sugar is very tightly controlled throughout the pregnancy,'' says Dr N G Sastry, Director � Consultant Diabetologist, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Research Centre, Hyderabad, In patients with diabetes who are planning pregnancy, it is extremely useful to get a CGMS done and get a correct picture of their blood sugar pattern.