Testing for gestational diabetes in pregnant women is crucial the condition can often lead to more serious problems such as pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure that can become very high and result in bed rest and even death.) The condition can also cause premature labor and certain birth defects.
Only about one third of the pregnant women in the United States are tested for gestational diabetes. In addition, only nineteen percent of the women who were screened and found to have gestational diabetes had the six-month screening test done. As many as half of these women will develop type 2 diabetes in the future.
"The study, based on an analysis by Quest Diagnostics, found that 19% of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes did not receive recommended screenings for regular diabetes six months after giving birth. Nakamoto, who is also the medical director for Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, said that as many as 50% of women with gestational diabetes will go on to develop diabetes over the longterm."
It is very important to be tested for gestational diabetes for the health of the mother and the baby.
Source: http://www.nationalpartnership.org.
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