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Type 2 Diabetes - High Blood Sugar Levels During Pregnancy

Between 2003 and 2005:

• 306 women with gestational diabetes
• 744 pregnant women with slightly elevated blood sugar, and
• 329 pregnant women with normal blood sugar levels

were enrolled in the study.

Gestational Diabetes and Blood Pressure: Women with gestational diabetes had more than twice the chance of having high blood pressure during pregnancy than did women with healthy pregnancies. They also had more than twice the risk of having a Cesarean delivery, and over 3 times the risk of having to have labor induced. Infants of mothers with gestational diabetes had a greater chance of having Apgar scores below 7, had more need for intensive care, and more than twice the chance of being born overly large, than did infants of normal pregnancies.

What are Apgar Scores? Apgar scores are assigned to infants at birth and at 5 minutes after birth. These scores are a method of rating infants' health quickly but thoroughly to assess the need for resuscitation. The scoring takes in to account skin color, breathing, cry, muscle tone, and heartbeat. Out of a possible 10, a score of below 7 is considered abnormal.

Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels: For pregnant women whose blood sugar was somewhat elevated but not high enough to receive a diagnosis of gestational diabetes, they had just twice the risk of high blood pressure as normal mothers, and more required induction of labor. Infants from those mothers had more use of intensive care and a higher risk of being overly large than did infants of normal pregnancies.

Therefore, the researchers concluded even having high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, without being diagnosed as having gestational diabetes, is enough to cause health problems for both mothers and infants.

When pregnancy is planned, it is a good idea to take some time to take stock before conception. Normalizing weight and building up good muscle tone will help to prevent gestational diabetes and high blood sugar levels.