Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis and Treatment in Miramar, FL

According to the CDC, it is estimated that between 2 to 10 percent of American women will develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. If you suspect you may be at risk for gestational diabetes, request an appointment with board-certified OBGYN, Dr. Dwight Benjamin, today by calling our Miramar office at (954) 435-4700.

Gestational Diabetes Screenings at Flamingo Women’s Pavilion

It is recommended that all women get screened for GDM, known as gestational diabetes mellitus. This standard test normally occurs at weeks 24 – 28 and is recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Anyone can get gestational diabetes and it’s certainly not your fault if you receive the diagnosis. The real cause of this condition is that the body does not produce enough insulin to deal with the increased level of glucose or sugar required to help your baby develop and grow.

Who Is at Risk?

Although anyone can get gestational diabetes, those at highest risk are decedents from particular ethnic groups like Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and those from the Pacific Islands.

Other situations and conditions that can increase your risk include:

• Being overweight before pregnancy
• If there is a family history of diabetes
• If you have previously had abnormal sugar tests
• Previously giving birth to a baby over 9 lbs

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Unfortunately, most of the signs of gestational diabetes are not very different from those of a normal pregnancy. This is why screening is so important since you may not be able to catch your symptoms right away.

Being Tired

Most pregnant women are naturally tired due to poor sleep and heartburn at night. When you are still super fatigued in the second trimester, see Dr. Benjamin as soon as possible for proper diagnosis.

Being Thirsty

This is another common result of pregnancy. The extra sugar in the body builds up for women with gestational diabetes, causing the kidneys to work overtime. Since your kidneys are responsible for filtering out the sugar in the body, you will urinate more often, which in turn will make you want to drink more often to replenish your body.

Snoring

It is not that suspicious to snore while pregnant. The changes in hormone levels can cause mucus membranes to swell and lead to increased frequency and intensity of a pregnant woman’s snoring.

No Symptoms

It is also entirely possible for a woman with gestational diabetes to not present any symptoms at all. Again, we must stress how important it is to be screened for gestational diabetes since it’s the only way to be sure you are dealing with normal pregnancy symptoms.

Gestational diabetes can be caught early and be managed effectively, but it can be difficult to sort out your symptoms without the help of an experienced obstetrician.