Gestational diabetes and what it means for me and my baby

Obstetrician & Gynecologist Anthony Chin, MD, explains what Gestational Diabetes is and what changes it can make to the mother and baby's bodies during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Effects of Gestational Diabetes on the Baby and Mother
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Gestational diabetes and what it means for me and my baby

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Gestational diabetes is otherwise known as diabetes of pregnancy. A woman who is not previously diabetic, when they become pregnant, certain substances in the placenta can be produced that will have a woman become insulin resistant, thereby acting like a diabetic. And just like a diabetic woman, the blood sugar can rise. We basically need to aware of diabetes in pregnancy because it can affect the baby negatively. If the baby has a lot of sugar around it, it can actually get disproportionally big, what we all macrosomic, which can make the delivery very difficult. In addition, if the baby is seeing a lot of blood sugar while in utero, the baby´s insulin levels will be high. When the baby is therefore born and is no longer seeing a lot of blood sugar, the insulin production still remains high and the baby´s blood sugar can actually bottom out. And the baby can get very sick and actually have seizures. So it is of paramount importance to control mothers´blood sugar levels while pregnant.

Obstetrician & Gynecologist Anthony Chin, MD, explains what Gestational Diabetes is and what changes it can make to the mother and baby's bodies during pregnancy and after childbirth.

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Anthony Chin, MD

Obstetrician & Gynecologist

Dr. Anthony Chin was born in Hollywood, CA and raised in Santa Monica, CA.  He was educated at UCLA and graduated with a BS in Molecular Biology.  Dr. Chin attended medical school at UCLA and finished his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.  Board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and published in peer reviewed journals, Dr. Chin is the  recipient of several research, patient satisfaction and teaching awards, and continues to be involved with the teaching of medical students and resident physicians.  He is happily married and has a three month old daughter named Alaia Rose. 

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Transcription: 
Gestational diabetes is otherwise known as diabetes of pregnancy. A woman who is not previously diabetic, when they become pregnant, certain substances in the placenta can be produced that will have a woman become insulin resistant, thereby acting like a diabetic. And just like a diabetic woman, the blood sugar can rise. We basically need to aware of diabetes in pregnancy because it can affect the baby negatively. If the baby has a lot of sugar around it, it can actually get disproportionally big, what we all macrosomic, which can make the delivery very difficult. In addition, if the baby is seeing a lot of blood sugar while in utero, the baby´s insulin levels will be high. When the baby is therefore born and is no longer seeing a lot of blood sugar, the insulin production still remains high and the baby´s blood sugar can actually bottom out. And the baby can get very sick and actually have seizures. So it is of paramount importance to control mothers´blood sugar levels while pregnant.