Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : November 27, 2017 3:40 PM IST
I am a 30-year-old woman suffering from gestational diabetes. I am taking medications and following the diet as recommended by my doctor. I wanted to know if it can be reversed. Am I at risk of suffering from diabetes in the near future? Does gestational diabetes make me diabetic for the rest of my life?
The query is answered by Dr Pradeep Gadge, Diabetologist, Gadge Diabetes Centre, Mumbai.
If you suffer from gestational diabetes during pregnancy, there are high chances that it can be reversed after pregnancy. However, you need to follow strict diet control and check your blood glucose levels frequently without fail. In most cases of gestational diabetes, it is seen that the condition will reverse immediately after pregnancy. So there is no need to worry about diabetes if you are following your doctor's advice to the T. In most patients, the blood glucose levels return to normal after the pregnancy is over and hence, there is no need to be worried. Here's more on what is gestational diabetes and how is it caused?
But there have been cases, where a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes is seen to suffer from diabetes after pregnancy. According to statistics, 33% of the patients with gestational diabetes will get diabetes after 5 years. Moreover, these women are at 50% of the risk of suffering from diabetes in their lifetime. So it means, out of every 3 women with gestational diabetes, one woman is at risk of getting diabetes in five years and out of every two women with diabetes during pregnancy, one is at risk of diabetes in the near future. Here are simple steps to prevent gestational diabetes.
Hence, to lower the risk, make sure you get your blood glucose level tested regularly and in case of any symptoms of diabetes, do consult your doctor at the earliest as uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy can also harm the growing fetus.
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