Type 2 Diabetes - Inflammation and Complications of Gestational Diabetes

When diabetes develops in a previously healthy woman during pregnancy it is termed gestational diabetes. It is similar to Type 2 diabetes and women who suffer gestational diabetes have a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Researchers in the Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Puerta del Mar, in Cadiz, Spain, looked at women with a history of gestational diabetes to ascertain their levels of inflammation and risk of the metabolic syndrome and heart and blood vessel disease.

Their study, published in the medical journal Cytokine in November 2011 included:

63 women with gestational diabetes, and63 healthy pregnant women.

Women with gestational diabetes had:

a higher body mass index (BMI) before their pregnancy,higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),higher leptin levels, andlower adiponectin levels than the healthy women.

The body mass index is a measure of height and weight and is closely related to the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. One particular study, published in 2006, associated obesity with a 16 times higher risk of Type 2 diabetes compared with normal weight individuals, and a high waist size was associated with a 20 times higher risk than that of a normal sized waist.

Heart and blood vessel disease, an important complication of Type 2 diabetes, is associated with being overweight and obesity. TNF-alpha is a protein made by the body's white blood cells to fight infections and cancer. When it is made in overly large quantities for too long it can be associated with inflammation. Diabetes is an inflammatory condition and has been associated with TNF-alpha. Several heart and blood vessel diseases are also associated with elevated levels of TNF-alpha. A study published in the Chinese Medical Journal in July of this year showed a possible link betwen TNF-alpha levels and irregular heartbeats. (Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease also associated with high TNF-alpha levels, and sometimes associated with diabetes).

Leptin is a hormone involved in fat metabolism. It is produced by fat cells and could be a signal to the brain that fat is present. Some studies suggest it has to do with pancreatic beta cells and their production of insulin. More study is needed before its complete role in the body is fully understood.

Adiponectin is a hormone that plays a role in the breakdown of fat and the regulation of blood sugar. Low levels are associated with a high risk of Type 2 diabetes. Low levels have also been found in the presence of heart and blood vessel disease.

Researchers concluded having a higher body mass index before pregnancy could be linked to the future development of Type 2 diabetes and heart and blood vessel disease. Women considering pregnancy should normalize their weight before conception for their future health and that of their children.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Gestational Diabetes Diet Plan - Guidelines for Women With Diabetes During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women are forced to have better dietary plans in order to ensure good nutrition intakes for the babies. In normal conditions, there are plenty of guidelines providing great deals of information about recommended foods and dietary restrictions for pregnant women. However, not all women are having the same privilege to enjoy normal life because they develop a certain medical condition such as diabetes.

Gestational diabetes (diabetes suffered by pregnant women) needs special treatments and dietary rules. In one side, pregnant women have to consume plenty of nutritious meals to ensure health and growth of the unborn child. However, diabetes brings more difficulties to make a diet plan. Diabetes is developed inside the body because of insulin dysfunction. Insulin is either not produced or unusable that makes the glucose level in the blood keeps on increasing. High blood sugar is very dangerous for the unborn child; women with gestational diabetes have to be able to control it. Keeping a good glucose level in the blood can be a real pain for almost everyone as there will be too many kinds of foods should be avoided.

Especially for pregnant women who develop diabetes, one good way to acquire good information about a suggested dietary plan is by visiting registered dietitian or nutritionist. A professional will measure weights, heights, physical strength, and the growing baby's needs before a suggested dietary plan is made. The good thing about visiting a nutritionist is that almost all aspects about good diets are carefully examined. The amounts of calories needed, carbohydrate, protein, fats, and many others aspects of diets are accurately measured. Even better, a nutritionist will ask questions about any preferable meal that patients would like to put on the menu. In some cases, changing the diets will not be sufficient enough to keep the glucose level under a critical point. Nutritionists will recommend a regular insulin injection to gain better health condition. Pregnant women have to take the insulin injection regularly at a medical facility. The glucose level will be examined to measure the perfect dose of insulin to be given.

Nevertheless, some points on many dietary plans are commonly found on any recommendation by nutritionists or dietitians. Some of the common diet plans include the suggestions to take small amount of carbohydrates, milk, and any food that contains much sugar. There will be some recommendation to consume more protein and fiber. The amounts of carbohydrates should be reduced as they contain a lot of glucose. The case is the same with milk and some beverages that contain simple sugar such as soda, juice and desserts. Surprisingly, any gestational diabetes diet plan will not recommend to skipping meals. It is believed that good distribution of nutrition helps the body to maintain the good level of glucose in the blood. Of course, patients need to be consistent on the amount of food consumed each time.

Anyway, the above recommendations are based on a common dietary plan. It is recommended to consult doctors or nutritionists to get specific explanations. Indeed, it is not easy to strictly follow any gestational diabetes diet plan. However, in order to ensure the good growth of the unborn child, pregnant women with diabetes have to try at their best.

There are also other dietary plans available on Gestational Diabetes Diet, where you can find plenty of different plans with specific categories for gestational diabetes. Learn also about signs of diabetes in men and women here.