Diabetes on the rise during pregnancy
Posted by on October 14, 2012 - 10:18am

 

The rising rates of diabetes during pregnancy was explored in a new study reported at a recent Obesity Society meeting.   Kelly Hunt, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina reported that the estimated rate of diabetes during pregnancy (combining gestational a pre-pregnancy diabetes)  increased from 5% to 8.7% among white women and from 5.7% to 9.7% among black women.

She said diabetes rates overall increased because of the obesity epidemic and the rising age at which women are giving birth.

"One thing that's good is that the awareness of diabetes during pregnancy has increased a lot in the past 20 years, which is important because you want either pre-pregnancy diabetes or gestational diabetes to be treated during pregnancy so that the impact on the infant is minimized," Hunt said.

Exposure to diabetes during pregnancy has been associated with birth defects, higher birth weight, and greater risks of childhood and adult obesity in the offspring.

"More interventions are needed, both to reduce the prevalence of diabetes prior to pregnancy and to prevent women who have gestational diabetes from subsequently developing type 2 diabetes," she added. "So I would say the take-home message is that we have a lot more work to do and with the obesity and diabetes epidemics, we really need to be thinking about how they're impacting the next generation."

Primary source: The Obesity Society
Source reference:
Hunt K, et al "Prevalence estimates of diabetes during pregnancy in United States women, 1980 to 2008" Obesity Society 2012; Abstract 744-P.

 

The Pill, HRT and Pregnancy may Increase Risk for High Blood Pressure
Posted by on March 31, 2011 - 3:32pm

Women who tend to have high blood pressure (HBP) should be particularly vigilant if they are on oral contraceptives, are pregnant, or on hormone replacement therapy.

Women on oral contraceptives (OC) experience small but detectable increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, usually in the normal range.  If it runs higher than normal make sure you talk to your doctor about it.   Women taking OCs who are 35 years and older and who smoke cigarettes are at even greater risk for heart disease and stroke and are encouraged to quit smoking.   If they are unable to quit smoking, they should talk to their doctor about using other forms of contraception.

Most studies show that blood pressure does not increase significantly with hormone replacement therapy in most women with and without high blood pressure.   However, a few women may experience a rise in blood pressure attributable to estrogen therapy.   It is recommended that women on HRT have their blood pressure monitored more often.

Many woman with HBP can have healthy babies but HBP during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and fetus.  Women with pre-existing, or chronic, high blood pressure are more likely to have certain complications during pregnancy than those with normal blood pressure.   Some women who have normal blood pressure before pregnancy may develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, called gestational hypertension.   The effects of high blood pressure range from mild to severe.   High PB can harm the mother's kidneys and other organs, and it can cause low birth weight and early delivery.  In the most serious cases, the mother develops pre-eclampsia or "toxemia of pregnancy" which can be life threatening.  More guidance for handling HPB during pregnancy can be found HERE.

Below is a chart for average normal blood pressure ranges.   However, age can effect the range, with slightly higher normal ranges as one ages.

Systolic pressure (mm Hg) Diastolic pressure (mm Hg) Pressure Range
130 85 High Normal Blood  Pressure
120 80 Normal Blood Pressure
110 75 Low Normal Blood  Pressure

Source:   National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute