A very important but neglected warning

There is a disturbing lack of knowledge among women who have had gestational diabetes, according to Professor Helena Teede at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health.

Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes occurring in the latter stages of pregnancy. It is caused by hormonal changes in pregnancy when the pancreas is unable to produce or release enough insulin to maintain blood glucose levels in the normal range.

It affects about one in 20 pregnancies and can lead to adverse outcomes for mothers and babies. It requires careful monitoring and treatment during the pregnancy.

But, according to Prof Teede, the Foundation’s director of research, many women forget about the experience, as it goes away after the pregnancy. The next time they may think about it is when they find they have diabetes – sometimes soon after their pregnancies but also later in life, as they age.

“This is a wasted opportunity to capture those at high risk and prevent or delay the development of diabetes,” Prof Teede says.

“Physical activity, control of weight and a healthy diet have a major impact on preventing the onset of so called type 2 or adult onset diabetes. If these women – who were given a warning while pregnant – had been educated, supported and monitored in the intervening years, they could have avoided or delayed the onset of diabetes.”

In fact, the risk of gestational diabetes can be reduced using the same three goals:

• Increased physical activity
• Control of weight
• Healthy eating plan

Gestational diabetes is more likely in women who are overweight, older, have a family history of diabetes and those who have a history of larger babies. While babies are not born with diabetes, they are often born overweight.

Prof Teede advises women who’ve had gestational diabetes to ensure they continue to receive blood glucose monitoring annually by their general practitioner and focus on maintaining good healthy lifestyle practices.

“Type I and type 2 diabetes are well known, but how many women are aware of gestational diabetes and its possible impact later in life?”

Media Information

Professor Helena Teede is available for interview.

For more information, including a quiz to find out how much women know about this condition, please call Aleeza Zohar at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health on (03) 9562 6771 or 0425 758 729.