Check your risk this National Diabetes Week

Did you know that at Mater Mothers 10 to 13 per cent of our maternity patients—about 1000 women a year—are treated for gestational diabetes?

As part of National Diabetes Week which runs from 13 to 19 July 2014, Mater Mothers is encouraging mums-to-be to check their risk.

Gestational diabetes is a specific type of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy and can be a common complication for women who are overweight prior to conceiving. It is caused when the mother’s body does not have enough insulin to remove the sugars from the blood causing increased blood sugar levels.

Complications can include heavier babies with more body fat, complications in delivery and an increased risk of both mother and baby developing diabetes later in life.

Mater Researcher Professor David McIntyre who is undertaking a study into gestational diabetes at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital said that gestational diabetes is currently treated with a modified diet or with insulin to keep the blood sugar levels stabilised. 

“Ideally, we would like to find a treatment to prevent diabetes in pregnancy because at the moment there is no known way of preventing this disase,” Prof McIntyre said.

More information about the risk factors and how to get tested can be found on the Gestational Diabetes brochure.