
November 29, 2000
Gestational Diabetes
Question from Lawton, Oklahoma, USA:
I am 39, eight months pregnant with my fourth child, and weigh 173 pounds. I’m going in for a three-hour glucose test because my one- hour test was elevated. I had extremely low blood sugar with my last child, born six years ago, to the point that during birth, both my daughter and I went into sugar shock. My symptoms were immediately gone after I ate. However, my little one however had to battle with pricking and sugar water for a few days. Having had low blood sugar most of my life, how can it be, that all of a sudden my levels are high? I am very confused.
Answer:
Due to some of the hormones produced during pregnancy, a mother can develop resistance to the insulin produced by her body. This can result in an elevated blood glucose (hyperglycemia). Thus, pregnancy can alter how your body handles sugar.
OWJ