Gestational diabetes is on the increase in Canberra and Dr Chris Nolan is encouraging women looking to start a family to get timely with their lifestyle and eating habits.
Gestational diabetes is on the increase in Canberra with more than 15 per cent of expectant mothers affected by the condition and a prominent ACT doctor warning that it is a trend that needs to be curtailed.
One of ACT Health’s longest-serving Endocrinologists, Dr Chris Nolan, said that the biggest change he has noticed in over 13 years working in the ACT is the rate at which mothers-to-be are developing gestational diabetes.
Dr Nolan said that this is a trend that can and should be minimised sooner rather than later.
“In the ACT, as is the case globally, the prevalence of gestational diabetes has been increasing significantly,” Dr Nolan said.
“In 2010 in the ACT 5 per cent of expectant mothers had gestational diabetes but by 2016 that figure rose to 15 per cent.
“What we do know is that this rise is due to a number of risk factors including an increase in pre-pregnancy weight, more mothers having babies at an older age and more mothers coming from a high-risk ethnic group.
“Timely prevention, timely intervention and timely treatment is the key to managing type 2 diabetes – a condition in which lifestyle is key to outcomes,” Dr Nolan said.
“For women who are contemplating starting a family, the message is to get timely with your lifestyle and eating habits to create and enjoy a healthy pregnancy.
Dr Chris Nolan. Photo supplied by ACT Health.
“It’s important for mothers-to-be to get their pregnancy off to a good start because the effects of diabetes in pregnancy are not just short term but long term as well. In the short term there are increased risks during pregnancy and labour, and risks for the baby of high birth weight and birth complications,” Dr Nolan said.
“In addition, once a mother is affected by gestational diabetes there is an increased risk of diabetes for future pregnancies and an increased risk of developing diabetes later in life. As well, their babies have a greater chance of being overweight or obese and developing diabetes.”
According to Diabetes Australia, gestational diabetes is the fastest growing type of diabetes in Australia, affecting thousands of pregnant women. It is a form of diabetes that usually occurs around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy, which is when pregnant women are normally tested for it.
Most women will no longer have diabetes after the baby is born but some women will continue to have high blood glucose levels after delivery.
In the ACT thorough screening for diabetes during antenatal care allows expectant mothers and their health practitioners to work together to manage the condition should it be detected. For those women who need extra assistance and support in managing their diabetes, ACT Health has a Specialist Antenatal clinic.
Dr Nolan received a 2018 Diabetes Australia Research Grant to explore the genetic factors that explain overlap in the risk for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, research that will help to further explain the complexities of increasing prevalence of both types of diabetes.
Dr Nolan hopes the research will lead to new approaches to the prevention and management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, following a granular look at the genetics involved.
However, in the meantime, Dr Nolan is concerned about the need to tackle the increasing rates of gestational diabetes and is working to increase awareness on this topic.
Have you suffered from gestational diabetes and, if so, how did it affect you and your baby? Do you think more needs to be done to prevent this condition?
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