Gestational Diabetes May Signal Future Risk

Women with gestational diabetes who have a cluster of symptoms typical of metabolic syndrome are more likely to go on to develop diabetes over 10 years, researchers found.

Action Points

• Women with gestational diabetes who have a cluster of symptoms typical of metabolic syndrome are more likely to go on to develop diabetes over 10 years, a study found. 
• Note that 35% of women with gestational diabetes fell into a high-risk cluster with elevated body mass index, systolic blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and triglycerides, and lower HDL levels during pregnancy.

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Gestational Diabetes In African-American Women Increases Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

African American women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy face a 52% increased risk of developing diabetes in the future compared to white women who develop GDM during pregnancy, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the journal Diabetologia.

African American women are less likely to develop GDM during pregnancy. But for those who were diagnosed of having GDM, their future overt diabetes risk is the greatest among all race/ethnic groups.

Although Asian/Pacific Islander women are much more likely to develop GDM than African American or non-Hispanic white women, their future diabetes risk after GDM is similar to that for non-Hispanic white women, the study found

Gestational Diabetes In African-American Women Increases Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetic Celebrity Health: Halle Berry

One in 20 women, such as Oscar winner Halle Berry, have diabetes during pregnancy. But once diagnosed it can be managed.

A condition known -- not surprisingly -- as gestational diabetes.

As the baby grows in the womb, hormonal changes can result in higher blood-sugar levels in the mother. The hormones in question are produced by the placenta - via which the mother delivers nutrients to her growing child.

The bigger the placenta grows over the course of the pregnancy, the more hormones it releases - and the greater the chances of diabetes.

Normally, the upsurge in hormones is countered by the pancreas, the organ that supplies the body with insulin.

Gestational diabetes occurs when the organ struggles to produce the required amount of insulin.

There are also indications that it is more prevalent among the overweight -- though given her regulation Hollywood figure, Berry hardly had cause to worry on that front.

However, in up to 50% of cases, there is no discernible cause of the condition. In the unborn child, gestational diabetes can lead to birth defects.

The most common complication is called macrosomnia, by which babies are born oversized. This happens because the foetus produces excess insulin to absorb the large levels of glucose it is receiving from the mother.

That, in turn, serves as a growth trigger resulting in newborns with larger than normal heads and shoulders, which increase the chance of an injury during childbirth.

No less worrying is evidence that pre-existing diabetes among mothers - most commonly linked to obesity -is on the rise. A US survey found recently that the number of woman with diabetes during pregnancy doubled in the past seven years.

Pre-existing diabetes poses a threat to both mother and child: the risk of miscarriage and still-birth climbs sharply and there is a possibility the infant will be born with birth defects.

However, once it has been diagnosed, gestational diabetes can be managed during pregnancy.

The mother will probably be advised to limit the amount of glucose in her system by adopting a low-sugar diet. Exercise has also been shown to help.

Should neither of these produce the desired result, doctors will recommend insulin injections, to bring down blood-sugar levels.

Should the pregnancy otherwise go smoothly, the long- term effects of gestational diabetes are minimal. The mother's blood-sugar levels will, in most cases, revert to their pre-existing levels shortly after childbirth.

Souece:

Independent - IE

Angelina Jolie diagnosed with gestational diabetes

Actress Angelina Jolie has been suffering from a form of diabetes that hits pregnant women, according to reports.

Jolie, who is expecting twins, has reportedly contracted gestational diabetes.

She found out about a month ago. She has been seeing a nutritionist.

The actress has been nauseous and her legs are so swollen that she has to wear bigger shoes.

http://entertainment.oneindia.in/hollywood/top-stories/scoop/2008/angelina-jolie-pregnancy-diabetes-290308.html

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/angelina-jolie-diagnosed-with-gestational-diabetes_10032451.html

Cracking the Code on Gestational Diabetes

Stopped by Diabetes Notes blog today, and found this good news article - Charles

We are getting closer to cracking the code on gestational diabetes and thus providing more treatment options for all diabetics.

Researchers out of Stanford University School of Medicine have been closely examining the protein called menin in the pancreas. It is already known to help prevent cancer in the pancreas as well as other organs but now… we have a more specific gestational diabetes implication.

Read the full blog posting at Diabetes Notes

Pre-Diabetes

According to research, there are approximately 54 million people in the U.S. with pre-diabetes!

Before developing Type 2 diabetes, people almost always have what is called "pre-diabetes".

This term simply means that the blood glucose levels are much higher than normal, but the levels are not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It also means you may be likely to develop diabetes, and may already be experiencing some of the health effects.

Diabetic symptoms can develop gradually with time, so often they are not recognized. And unfortunately some people don't have any symptoms at all. The typical symptoms include always being thirsty, a frequent desire to urinate, blurred vision, along with being tired most of the time.

Also if you are overweight and 45 years of age or older, you should get tested on your next doctors visit.

In addition, risk groups include those with high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes - women who have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, or those belonging to an ethnic or minority group at high risk for diabetes (Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders).

Studies have shown that without diagnosis, pre-diabetics have a good chance of having long term damage to the heart and circulatory system. And research has also shown that taking action to manage pre-diabetes blood glucose levels can delay or may even prevent Type 2 diabetes from ever developing.

If you have been determined as having pre-diabetes, you should be checked for Type 2 diabetes every 1-2 years after your diagnosis.

For more detailed information, visit the FAQ on Pre-diabetes at the American Diabetes Website.