It is estimated that one in ten women have gestational diabetes in pregnancy. It is a disease that only occurs in pregnancy due to the action of hormones that interfere with the production of insulin and raises blood glucose levels. If left unchecked, it can lead to problems such as malformations in the baby, heart problems, obesity and can even put your life at risk.
The test that is used to detect it is the O'Sullivan test that is performed between the 24th and 28th week of gestation, however, a new study has found that a blood test could identify gestational diabetes in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The research, conducted by NIH / Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (United States) scientists, and published in 'Scientific Reports', concludes that the test that analyzes glycosylated hemoglobin or HbA1c, commonly used to diagnose type 2 diabetes, can also identify signs of gestational diabetes in the first weeks of pregnancy.
To carry out the work, the researchers analyzed the data of more than 2,000 women during four intervals throughout pregnancy: from 8 to 13 weeks, during the weeks from 16 to 22 and from 24 to 29, and at the end , between weeks 34 and 37.
They found that women who developed gestational diabetes registered high levels of HbA1c, an average of 5.3 percent, compared to those who did not develop it that registered 5.1 percent. Every 1 percent that exceeds the 5.1 level in HbA1c during the first weeks of pregnancy is associated with 22 percent more likely to suffer from gestational diabetes.
Could it be prevented?
"The results suggest that the HbA1C test can help women identify if they are at risk of having gestational diabetes in the first weeks of pregnancy, when a change in lifestyle can be effective in reducing that risk," said the Study leader, Dr. Cuilin Zhang.
With respect to the latter, by detecting in the first quarter the possibility of developing it, measures could be taken to prevent it as much as possible. Controlling weight gain in pregnancy, healthy eating habits and exercising regularly can be a decisive factor in health during pregnancy.
