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How can gestational diabetes affect a newborn if it is untreated?
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pregnancy
Devices for individual use at home detect pregnancy by measuring levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine.
If gestational diabetes is left untreated, it can lead to several serious health complications for the newborn. Because the mother’s elevated blood glucose levels cross the placenta, the fetus may produce excess insulin, which can result in fetal macrosomia—a condition where the infant is born with a high birth weight and large organs.123
Other significant risks to the newborn include:
- Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Infants may experience abnormally low blood sugar levels shortly after birth.123
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Newborns are at an increased risk for this condition, which is characterized by labored breathing and an inability to properly exchange oxygen due to a lack of pulmonary surfactant.45
- Birth Trauma: Due to the infant's large size, the delivery process can be difficult, increasing the risk of injury.13
- Increased Mortality: There is a higher incidence of fetal-neonatal mortality associated with uncontrolled gestational diabetes.3
Effective management, including dietary control and insulin therapy when necessary, is essential to monitor fetal development and prevent these complications.3