Gestational diabetes is a form of the disease that occurs only during pregnancy. It mirrors other forms of diabetes, except that the symptoms are much more difficult to detect. Gestational diabetes is often asymptomatic and is only discovered with a blood sugar test, which is usually done in the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. However, some pregnant women may notice symptoms. The most common gestational diabetes symptoms include increased thirst, increased need to urinate, higher levels of fatigue, and nausea.
The most common symptoms of gestational diabetes to look for are increased thirst and excessive urination. Women who notice a marked increase in their thirst levels should note this change and track their fluid intake to see if the trend persists for several days. Likewise, it is advisable to observe the frequency of urination, especially if the need to urinate more frequently does not correspond to a higher fluid intake. It may be helpful to bring this information to prenatal appointments so the doctor has the data readily available.
Pregnant women who suspect they may have gestational diabetes should also monitor their levels of fatigue. While fatigue is very common during pregnancy in general, people with gestational diabetes may experience excessive exhaustion that interferes with daily activities. Fatigue associated with gestational diabetes may be most noticeable in the second trimester, when fatigue generally subsides for most pregnant women compared to the first and third trimesters.
Nausea and vomiting are also common symptoms of gestational diabetes. Similar to fatigue, these conditions often lessen as the pregnancy progresses. Women who do not experience relief from nausea and vomiting in the second trimester should alert their doctor. In combination with other symptoms, frequent and persistent dizziness and vomiting should be considered possible signs of gestational diabetes.
Blurred vision is a more extreme sign of gestational diabetes. Unlike the other symptoms, blurred vision is not strongly associated with pregnancy side effects and should be reported to a doctor. Women with gestational diabetes may experience compromised vision when their blood sugar levels drop or rise. If the vision returns to normal after eating, this especially indicates that gestational diabetes could be the cause.
Weight loss during pregnancy is another clear sign that gestational diabetes may be present. Most women gain weight steadily during pregnancy. If weight loss occurs after the first trimester, this could indicate that the body is not processing glucose efficiently and that gestational diabetes is to blame.
It is vital for pregnant women to pay attention to any physical condition that may indicate symptoms of gestational diabetes. Women may ignore the symptoms as common side effects of being pregnant, but should report any indicators of illness to a doctor so that a blood test can be performed. If left untreated, gestational diabetes poses health risks to both the mother and the fetus.