Pregnant women, especially those in the second trimester and onward, frequently experience poor sleep quality, but now a new study published in the Journal of The Brazilian Medical Association has found that this is common among type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetic women who are pregnant , with these women having excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep at nights. The report also found that metformin and drugs of higher parity were associated with poor sleep quality, but only in women with gestational diabetes.
What is gestational diabetes
This is a type of diabetes that develops only during pregnancy. You may have no symptoms, or they may be mild, like feeling more thirsty than usual or needing to urinate more often. Heredity or extra weight may contribute to gestational diabetes.
How gestational diabetes affects your baby
The Brazilian study concluded that priority should be given to treating women who are pregnant and diabetic, since diabetes during gestation is usually associated with poor outcomes for both the mother and the baby. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, (NIH) your baby may have heart defects, may be born prematurely, weigh too much, have breathing problems or low blood glucose right after birth.
How gestational diabetes affects the mother
You may develop eye problems, kidney disease and even preeclampsia, a condition in which you develop high blood pressure and too much protein in your urine. This condition can be live-threatening for you and your baby.
How can gestational diabetes be treated
The NIH states that if you have had diabetes for years, when you become pregnant you may have to change your eating habits, physical activity and even your medication. You may need to take insulin. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) makes a similar recommendation and states that you should check your glucose daily. The following are the target glucose levels the ADA suggests:
- Before a meal (preprandial): 95 mg/dl or less
- One hour after a meal (postprandial): 140 mg/dl or less
- Two hours after a meal (postprandial): 120 mg/dl or less
Developing gestational diabetes is cause for concern, but the good news is that with the help of your health care team, you can deliver a healthy baby and you too can enjoy good health. The bad news is that women who develop gestational diabetes can go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later. In order to avoid this, start now by losing weight, if you are overweight, increase your physical activity and include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
