Insulin is a hormone that transports glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream into the cells of the body, where it is stored or used for energy. Your body creates more insulin during pregnancy to aid in the growth of your kid. Pregnancy, on the other hand, can make you more insulin resistant. This is why many pregnant women get diabetes (gestational diabetes).
During the first eight weeks of pregnancy, a baby’s organs, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs, begin to form. High blood glucose levels can be dangerous during this period and increase the risk of your baby developing birth problems including heart defects or brain or spine defects.
High blood glucose levels during pregnancy might also increase your baby’s chances of being born prematurely, weighing too much, or having breathing problems or low blood glucose after birth.
When a person experiences hypoglycemia symptoms during pregnancy, they should consult their doctor to determine the exact cause. During pregnancy, two forms of hypoglycemia can occur:
- Hypoglycemia as a result of a reaction. When blood sugar levels plummet within a few hours of eating, this is known as hypoglycemia. This is prevalent in diabetics, but it can also happen to people who don’t have diabetes.
- Hypoglycemia caused by fasting. This happens when blood sugar levels go dangerously low in between meals. A person with a medical problem other than diabetes is more prone to develop this kind.
Before becoming pregnant, some women develop diabetes. Pregestational diabetes is the term for this condition. Others may develop a type of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy. Diabetes during pregnancy is referred to as gestational diabetes. The way a woman’s body uses glucose can change during pregnancy. This might aggravate diabetes or result in gestational diabetes. The placenta is an organ that provides nourishment and oxygen to a growing foetus during pregnancy. Hormones are also produced by the placenta. Estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen can inhibit insulin in late pregnancy. Insulin resistance occurs when insulin is inhibited. Glucose is unable to enter the cells of the body. The glucose remains in the bloodstream, causing blood sugar levels to rise.
