Monday, June 13, 2011

Gestational Diabetes - Causes

Gestational diabetes is the result of hormonal changes duringpregnancy. Increased levels of hormones produced by the placenta(the organ that connects the fetus and mother through the umbilical cord and used to exchange nutrients) obstructed the amount ofinsulin to regulate blood glucose. This condition is called "insulin resistance".

As the pregnancy progresses, the placenta grows and produces alarger amount of hormones, causing an increased insulin resistance.
Normally, the pancreas produces more insulin pregnant (threetimes the normal amount) to overcome insulin resistance.

If the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to cancel the effect of increasing the amount of hormones produced during pregnancy,blood sugar levels rise, causing gestational diabetes.

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