Causes of Gestational Diabetes

Written by Lin Xiang Dong

Endocrinology

Updated on August 31, 2024

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Gestational diabetes refers to the abnormality of blood sugar levels that occurs during pregnancy, at which time it is called gestational diabetes. The reason for the occurrence of gestational diabetes is due to significant changes in the body's endocrine hormones after pregnancy. The body releases many hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which can increase insulin resistance. Thus, a much greater amount of insulin is needed to maintain normal blood sugar levels. If the pancreatic beta cells are not sufficient to compensate for the increased insulin secretion needed to meet the normal metabolic requirements caused by these resistance factors, then elevated blood sugar and abnormal glucose metabolism occur, ultimately leading to gestational diabetes.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi

Endocrinology

1min 2sec

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Causes of diabetic foot

The main causes of diabetic foot are as follows: The first one is poor blood sugar control in patients. Some patients have long neglected their blood sugar levels, leading to consistently high levels. The second cause is vascular disease in the lower limbs of the patient, including arteriosclerosis, with severe cases leading to occlusion and subsequent ulceration of the feet. The third reason is the presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients, which results in abnormal sensations or numbness in the feet. Many patients wearing new shoes or stepping on sharp objects inadvertently can lead to diabetic foot. The fourth cause is infection induced by patients who initially neglect minor foot injuries, or who improperly manage such injuries at home, leading to the development of diabetic foot. Therefore, we advise diabetics to maintain good control of their blood sugar and take timely measures to prevent diabetic foot.

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Written by Zhou Yan

Geriatrics

1min 5sec

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How to treat diabetes in the elderly?

For elderly patients with diabetes, our long-term treatment goal is to delay the onset and progression of chronic diabetic complications, maintain good health and self-care ability, improve quality of life, and extend healthy lifespan through good metabolic control. The short-term goal is to control hyperglycemia and its metabolic disorders, eliminate the symptoms of diabetes, and prevent acute severe metabolic disorders. Our "five-pronged" approach to diabetes management is also suitable for elderly patients, including diabetes education, medical nutrition therapy, exercise therapy, blood glucose monitoring, and medication therapy. Therefore, for elderly diabetic patients, it is essential to keep blood glucose levels within a controllable range, delay the onset of complications, and provide a healthy twilight years for elderly diabetics.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan

Endocrinology

46sec

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How to treat early-stage diabetes?

In the early stages of diabetes, when blood sugar levels are not very high, it can be controlled through diet and exercise. This can be achieved by losing weight, reducing calorie intake, and increasing calorie consumption through exercise to lower blood sugar levels. However, for some obese patients or those who cannot control their diet, medications can also be used in the early stages to prevent further increases in blood sugar levels. Currently, medications such as metformin and acarbose, which are both effective and relatively inexpensive, are mainly recommended. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Chen Xie

Endocrinology

1min 22sec

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Symptoms of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes refers to abnormal glucose tolerance that occurs during pregnancy. It usually involves only mild, asymptomatic hyperglycemia without the typical symptoms of diabetes such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss. However, significant increases in blood sugar can lead to symptoms such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss. It is important to be vigilant for gestational diabetes in patients who exhibit symptoms such as excessive amniotic fluid, a large fetus, or recurrent urinary tract infections. Therefore, it is generally recommended for pregnant patients to complete an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) by the 24th week of pregnancy to confirm whether they have gestational diabetes. After childbirth, blood sugar levels in women with gestational diabetes generally return to normal, but the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future significantly increases. Therefore, patients with gestational diabetes should undergo diabetes screening 6 to 12 weeks postpartum and be monitored over the long term.

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Written by Tang Zhuo

Endocrinology

1min 21sec

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Symptoms of diabetic foot

Diabetic foot is one of the severe chronic complications of diabetes, generally referred to as the abnormalities in the lower limbs caused by diabetic vascular neuropathy. Diabetic foot with gangrene of the extremity due to concurrent infection is referred to as diabetic foot with gangrene of the extremity, representing a serious stage in the progression of diabetic foot. The main symptoms of diabetic foot include: first, subcutaneous fat atrophy, thinning of the skin, common pigmentation spots on the shin, no hair on the feet and toes, and thickening of the toenails often accompanied by fungal infections; second, atrophy of the extremity muscles, malnutrition, poor muscle tone, and susceptibility to injury in joints and ligaments; third, visible sinking of the finger joints, joint bending, weakening or disappearance of foot deformities, and cool, swollen skin at the extremities; fourth, patients often experience extremity pain, numbness, sensory abnormalities, and dull or absent deep and superficial reflexes. In the initial stages of diabetic foot gangrene, blistering, blood blisters, erosion, and infection can gradually develop into ulcers, gangrene, or necrosis. Clinically, this is manifested as localized redness, swelling, increased skin temperature, pain, functional impairment, and the presence of purulent secretions, sometimes accompanied by a foul odor.