Gestational diabetes -- hyperglycemia during pregnancy -- effects a considerable number of women. It is also a known risk factor for developing diabetes (T2) later in life. Some degree of peripheral insulin resistance normally develops during pregnancy. Why? Because the fetus' growth and development takes priority in nutrient partitioning so glucose is conserved for the fetus much like it is conserved for the brain in the fasted/starved/glucose-deprived state. The link of GD to T2 most likely reveals the genetic predisposition towards IR -- in other words, while diet can cause insulin resistance, there is a genetic component in most who eventually develop hyperglycemia as a result. Most women will compensate for the mild IR state and maintain normal glycemia during pregnancy, while those who are perhaps even mildly IR to begin with will exceed their capacity to compensate during the pregnancy. In most cases, deliver the baby and the diabetes goes away.
No comments:
Post a Comment