Women's Health Tips

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus develops in women during pregnancy.

Two main reasons account for the development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus:

First, major hormonal changes occur in the body during pregnancy. These changes increase the body’s requirement for insulin. If the pancreas is not strong enough to produce the increased amount of insulin needed during pregnancy, the chances increase for the development of this form of diabetes.

In addition, hormones secreted during pregnancy tend to decrease the effectiveness of insulin, leading to raised blood sugar levels. Nearly 2 to 5 percent of women who do not have pre-existing diabetes develop this form toward the end of the fourth month of their pregnancies.
(more…)