The placenta that provides nourishment and keeps the baby alive as it grows inside the uterus also releases a hormone that effectively blocks or inhabits a woman’s insulin production from the pancreas.  It can also affect the way a woman’s body uses the insulin that is produced.  When there is too much sugar (glucose) in a woman’s system that is not being converted to energy it produces high blood sugar.  This condition is known as hyperglycemia.

Every woman is routinely screened for gestational diabetes at her monthly doctor’s exam during pregnancy.  The urine sample that the woman provides is checked for glucose (among other things).  If there is glucose in the urine it is a red flag to the doctor to have the woman screened for gestational diabetes.  The doctor will then send the patient to a medical lab for blood work and if the results come back positive a referral will be given to an endocrinologist (a doctor specializing in the treatment of diabetics).  A treatment and management plan will be put into action for the women to follow for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Although gestational diabetes is a serious condition that affects both the mother and the developing fetus there is no cause for alarm.  There are many things known about treating diabetes in pregnancy – although not as much information on why it occurs.  With good control of blood sugar levels, following a proper diet, and regular exercise a mom with gestational diabetes can go on to deliver a healthy baby.

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What is Gestational Diabetes?

Children are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when their pancreas (the organ that produces insulin) does not make enough insulin on its own or not enough to process the food that is eaten into glucose.  Glucose is how our bodies get energy from the food we eat.  If a child’s body is not processing the food the sugar (glucose) is spilled into the urine without being used for energy.  Juvenile diabetes is also known as an autoimmune disease.  The child’s cells destroy the cells in the pancreas that are needed to make insulin.

There are greater risks and complications associated with diabetes when it exists in young children.  A good health care team and due diligence on the parents’ part is going to be needed to ensure the child receives the best care possible.  As a parent you will have to check your child’s blood sugar levels regularly using a blood glucose monitor.  It will also be your responsibility to ensure that a proper diet and regular physical activity are part of your child’s life.

It is important that other people who care for your child when you are not around know that he or she has diabetes.  They need to know what to do in case of an emergency and the special dietary requirements your child requires.  It is recommended to get a bracelet or other form of identification that your child can wear that advises they have juvenile diabetes.

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What is Juvenile Diabetes?

Some additional risk factors for being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes include a family connections (a first or second generation family member) and race.  Even with these risk factors present a person can prevent out put-off a diagnosis off type 2 diabetes by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and plenty of physical activity.

Type 2 diabetes has in the past been diagnosed in patients over the age of 40 but in recent years people of all ages have been diagnosed with this disease.  There is an alarming number of young children who are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are obese.

People who have not yet been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes may exhibit some of these symptoms:  Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and skin infections.   Moodiness and irritability may also be a symptom of diabetes but is usually not one that precipitates a trip to the doctor and is later explained by high or low blood sugar levels.  Other warning signs for type 2 diabetes are the same as type 1 diabetes such as an increased need to urinate, a desire to drink more and a feel of lethargy or constant tiredness.

Type 2 diabetics have a range of options for treatment depending on personal preference and their individual needs in contrast to type 1 diabetics whose only option is to go on insulin injections or an insulin pump.

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What is Type 2 Diabetes

People who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are often surprised because it is not linked to lifestyle or a healthy body weight.  As of now, there still is no exact reason that researchers have found that causes a person to develop type 2 diabetes.  Although there are risk factors that can increase the chances of someone being diagnosed.

Another name for type 1 diabetes is juvenile diabetes.  The reason for this is because the majority of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are under the age of 25.  There have been reported cases of patients being diagnosed with the disease much older but those are exceptions.  There may be a genetic link that causes people to become insulin dependant but the exact link has yet to be discovered.

Diabetics with type 1 will have to take insulin for the rest of their lives.  The amount of insulin they take may vary with their diet and weight through the years.  Type 1 diabetics need to carefully monitor their urine for ketones every morning as they are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis – a serious condition.  This is your body’s way of telling you it is not getting enough fuel and is using fat cells as energy instead of the food that is being consumed.

The number of people with type 1 diabetes is relatively small compared to the number of people who are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  The numbers for type 2 diabetes continue to grow with the obesity rates.

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What is Type 1 Diabetes

Symptoms for type 1 diabetes can include:

• An increased thirst that is not satisfied after drinking extra fluids
• A frequent need to urinate (more than normal)
• A dry or fuzzy feeling inside the mouth
• Unexplained and sudden weight loss
• Feeling light-headed, weak or dizzy
• Sight problems such as blurry vision

Symptoms for type 2 diabetes can include:

• Sharp or numbing pain in the legs
• Cuts or bruises that take a long time to heal
• Recurrent yeast infections
• Sight problems such as blurry vision
• An increased thirst that is not satisfied after drinking extra fluids
• A frequent need to urinate (more than usual)

Many of these symptoms do not always mean diabetes is the problem they can also be indicative of other medical problems.  It is a good idea to seek medical attention if any of these signs show up.  Symptoms for type 1 diabetes usually come on very rapidly whereas symptoms for type 2 diabetes may develop gradually over time.

In young children who are experiencing any of the symptoms it may be hard to tell if they are just having a bad day or are really sick.  Keep a close on them, especially if they are younger and may not be able to articulate how they are feeling very well.  It is better to err on the side of caution and book a doctor’s appointment if there are any concerns that you might have.

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Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes versus Type 2 Diabetes

The four different kinds of artificial sweeteners are:  saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium.  Each of these types can be found under various product names and brands.  Not all are made the same way and they have different uses.  Some you can buy in liquid or powdered form for baking needs and others like aspartame is only found in foods that you purchase pre-made.

The use of these artificial sweeteners will not raise blood sugar and are safe for a diabetic to use.  Care and attention is still needed because the food items you put sugar in or on most likely will have an affect on your blood sugar.  Still follow your diabetic diet but use some artificial sweeteners to make it a little sweeter.

Some diabetics may want to use honey as a substitute for sugar.  You certainly can make this substitution, however, honey is very similar to sugar in carbohydrate content and the effects it will have on your blood glucose level.  It is best to enjoy honey in small moderations if at all.

Aspartame has been linked in some medical studies with Alzheimer’s disease.  Speak to your doctor about the benefits and risks of using any of the artificial sweeteners if you have any concerns about the potential health risks.

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Artificial Sweeteners for Diabetics

Many restaurants today make different eating requirements easy for their clients by designating food choices as “light” or “heart-healthy” these are the ones that should be the first choices on your list.  But don’t worry; you are not bound to just these choices.  Speak up, let your server know of your special dietary requirements and ask if they take special requests or substitutions (very few restaurants will say no).

Here are some ideas of items that can be changed on the menu:

• If you are unsure how a dish is made or with what – ask
• Find out how big the meal is.  If you know that is a very large portion ask that they box up half before bringing it to you and you will be less tempted to eat more than you should.
• When ordering salad, baked potato, or another item that comes with toppings askfor them on the side if at all.

If you are going to a fast food restaurant it can be even trickier to find something on the menu that is appropriate.  But there are some choices available.  Steer clear of the fries and look for menu items that include the words broiled or baked.  A grilled chicken burger or deli sandwiches are smart choices.  Try to stick to your regular eating time, if you arrive at the restaurant early enough you can hope to be served around the same time you would have eaten at home.

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Restaurant Dining and Gestational Diabetes

For any pregnant women, with or without gestational diabetes, the foods that are eaten should be of the highest quality and nutritional value to give your baby the best start in life.  You don’t want to get bored with your snack choices or you are more likely to indulge in something you shouldn’t.  Try to mix up the snacks you choose and use some of the suggestions from the list below to add more variety.

Snack suggestions:

• A small fruit (such as an apple or orange) and a ¼ of mixed nuts
• Celery sticks with natural peanut butter spread in the center
• Half a sandwich made with whole wheat bread and lunch meat and/or cheese
• A handful of baked tortilla chips with salsa and shredded cheese (this can bemixed together and warmed up in the microwave too)
• A banana milk shake made with ½ banana, ½ cup of milk, 2-3 ice cubes and 2tablespoons of natural peanut butter

Using left-overs from your main meals in small portions work well for snacks too.  Make your snacks something to look forward to.  If you enjoy eating your food you are going to make it easier for yourself to stick with your diabetic diet.  There are also protein mixes that you can buy to add to milk that are nice for a bed time snack.  Something that is light and provides protein to help with your blood sugar level until morning.

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Snack Ideas for Women with Gestational Diabetes

Once diabetes is diagnosed it is no longer really a matter of why but how to manage it.  Whether it is type 1 diabetes and enough insulin is not being produced or it is type 2 diabetes and the insulin that is being produced is not being utilized the solution is to provide more insulin to the body.  This is most commonly done with an insulin injection in the morning or spaced out over the course of the day with multiple injections.  That will be determined on the individual and their insulin needs – not which type of diabetes they have.

It used to be that type 1 diabetes was found in children or young adults under the age of 25 and type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in adults over the age of 40.  There have been many cases to the contrary proving that anyone may be at risk of being diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes – adults have been diagnosed with type 1 and young children have been found to have type 2 diabetes.

The management of either type of diabetes is also dependent on a healthy diet and regular exercise.  By maintaining a healthy body weight and keeping active a person can reduce their insulin requirements and keep their blood sugars in a safe range (set by their doctor).

Despite the different reasons for having diabetes, the two types are very similar in other ways and the treatment plan that works does so for both.  Another common trait they share is the complications that can arise to internal organs (especially the kidneys).

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Similarities between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

There are many forms of support you can seek out.  The support from your spouse or partner is going to be very important.  They cannot be eating an ice cream sundae in front of you while you are expected to abstain.  Since eating like a diabetic is a healthy lifestyle change, you both should follow the diet set forth for you keeping in mind the extra caloric needs of different people.

Joining a group of pregnant women is helpful too.  You can go through your pregnancies together and when your babies are born you can continue with your support network as your children grow up together.  Touch base with your endocrinologist to see if they know of a support group specifically for women with gestational diabetes.  You can share recipe tips and provide the emotional support needed as you ride the roller coaster of pregnancy with diabetes.

There are many online support groups too with a specialization in many different complications that can arise in pregnancy.  Or join a support group for woman online whose babies are due at the same time as yours.  You may even meet someone online that lives in your neighborhood.

Don’t feel that you have to deal with your diabetes on your own.  Help and support are available.  If you can’t find it readily with a little research you are sure to find what you need.

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Support for Women with Gestational Diabetes