No one actually bails out from the threats of having diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy. Every woman, even with a healthy lifestyle prior to the pregnancy can suffer from these two life-threatening conditions.

It is important to be prepared for the possibility of experiencing either one but then again, these two problems usually present together that is why it is important to religiously visit your doctor and at the same time, to verbalize any concerns that you have. Remember that some health maladies go without precisely giving out symptoms and both diabetes and hypertension are concrete examples of these silent illnesses.

Nonetheless, a trip to your doctor will save you from the anxiety and perhaps, will also save both you and your baby’s lives.

Gestational diabetes usually happens on the 24^th to 28^th week. The symptoms are not usually manifested but some women may report the classic symptoms like excessive hunger and thirst. There are certain factors that can predispose you to this condition. For instance, if you have a family history of diabetes, then you will likely have one or if you had gestational diabetes in your previous pregnancies you are more likely to have it again. Gestational diabetes also tends to run among women who are 30 years old and above and who belong to a specific race including Hispanic, Asian and those with American descent. Being overweight can also predispose you to gestational diabetes.

When you think you have at least one risk factor, modification of your lifestyle is necessary. Concerned health care individuals will try to make your blood sugar relatively low to prevent miscarriage, C-section or fetal complications.

On the other hand, pregnancy induced hypertension or the increase in blood pressure during pregnancy is common especially to those with African-American descent. Just like gestational diabetes, you will most likely have PIH if you already have the history in your family and if you have already experienced the condition in the past. Being overweight and having certain diseases will also put you at risk. Also, if you are younger than 20 and over 35, you will likely suffer from PIH. The absolute cause of PIH is not yet determined by the medical experts but studies have linked the development of PIH when one has gestational diabetes.

Again, it is important not to delay any visit to your doctor as the symptoms sometimes appear harmless because you might mistake these as normal occurrences like headache, blurring of vision, an upset stomach, nausea and vomiting. Do not wait until the condition has already progressed to more serious levels as preterm delivery and a delayed growth for your baby can happen.

Blood pressure monitoring as well as blood sugar level checks are vital. Your doctor will prescribe medications that you should take everyday. And you will be asked to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Prenatal visits undeniably play a critical role in ensuring that gestational diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension are prevented and that the practice of healthy living even before you conceive is important.