May

Australia Samoa Newspaper
Health
02 May 2016
7
Gestational Diabetes
(Development of sugar Diabetes – during pregnancy)
Dr Olataga
Alofivae
Doorbiinia
Thank you for giving me the opportunity
to talk about Gestational Diabetes
. This is a very serious health
problem affecting our Samoan women of
child bearing ages. What are some of the
risk factors
Risk factors
1. Overweight Body mass index (BMI)
greater than 30
2. Maternal age over the age of 25 years
3. Certain ethnic groups - Asian, Pacific
women , Maori women
4. Western diet - High carbohydrate ,
High fat and sugar intake predisposes
becoming overweight before they become
pregnant .
5. Previous gestational diabetes
6. Hypertension
7. Poor previous baby deliveries
Screening during pregnancy.
1. If a Samoan pregnant lady has any of
these problems – she should be screened
very early in the pregnancy for gestational
diabetes.
2. The test is a special sugar drink - 75
gm sugar intake and blood sugar is
measured
3. If the mother is diagnosed - we will be
referred to the Diabetic team in the local
hospital and it becomes a priority to
look at the antenatal clinic. She is then
assessed how to manage, she would go on
a special diet, and may need medications
such as insulin to keep her sugar levels
under control and stop the baby from getting
too big .
4. All pregnant women are screened at
20- 28 weeks , but our Samoan pregnant
ladies should be screened earlier. It is
very important to screen to prevent bad
comes for Mum and the baby.
Complications to the Samoan Pregnant
woman
1. Can develop early labour
2. Increased complications in the labour
- dangerous vaginal delivery
3. Post delivery - large bleed
4. Instrumental delivery - forceps or vacuum
5. Vaginal delivery – end up an emergency
caesarean section -
Unwanted effects to the Baby
1. Large , but floppy baby – over 4 kg - refer
to the baby picture
2. Birth defects
3. Shoulder damage to the baby - shoulder
dystocia – as it gets blocked in the
birth canal
4. Birth trauma due to hypoxia – baby got
stuck as too big for the birth canal- can
brain damage to the newborn baby
Message to young Mums and all pregnant
ladies.
1. Be screened for Diabetes before pregnancy
, during and 6 weeks after delivery
2. Be careful with the weight gain , if concerned
talk to the GP and the hospital
doctors
3. See your doctor before you want to get
pregnant to plan your pregnancy
4. Book early to the Hospital
5. Nutrition – is very important to plan ,
look at foods that will give you and baby
energy and provide good vitamins.
6. Good planning and then follow up with
the local GP or Hospital will ensure a
healthy out come .
If you would like to ask or find out more ,
please contact the cheif editor of Australia
Samoa,Iniini Samoa or contact,
Powell St Family Practice – we are on the
Face book and we would be delighted to
make an appointment with you or your
family to help to plan a good pregnancy
or a healthy outcome and prevent or
screen for gestational Diabetes
Pacific
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