Did you know that hormones released by the placenta during pregnancy can raise sugar levels in the mother-to-be’s body?
Insulin produced by the pancreas acts like a key to allow sugar into the body’s cells. During pregnancy, hormones affect the “lock” on this “key”, so the mother-to-be’s body has to produce more insulin to prevent too much sugar accumulating in the blood.
In some women and pregnant person, insulin resistance is too strong. The pancreastooltip is unable to compensate, and the sugar does not enter the cells and remains in the bloodstream. These individuals then present what is known as gestational diabetes.
In this video, Dre Isabelle Malhame and Dre Anick Bérard, talk about the fragile balace between sugar and insulin, and its consequences during pregnancy.
As this type of diabetes generally goes undetected, it is essential to have a diabetes screening test during pregnancy for the health of both mother and baby.
To learn more, don’t hesitate to consult our associated resources and additional references:
Credits
Isabelle Malhamé
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Anick Bérard
Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
Émy Roberge
Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
Catherine Lord
Immerscience Inc.