Does Gestational Diabetes Cause Nausea and Vomiting?
There are almost no specific symptoms of gestational diabetes (GD). If the symptoms do occur, they can be vague. For instance, frequent urination and increased thirst are often reported, but these also could be a normal part of pregnancy. Moreover, a few anecdotal reports show that it’s also to blame for nausea and vomiting – is this true or just a myth?
Causes of morning sickness
Morning sickness is one of common pregnancy symptoms. It is a term used to describe a condition for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP).
Doctors and experts still don’t know exactly the underlying cause of these symptoms. But some pregnancy hormones may play a key role.
The increased production of hCG ‘Human Chorionic Gonadotropin’
The hCG is a pregnancy hormone stimulated and produced by the placenta. The increased level of this hormone may have a significant contribution to cause NVP – according to the National Institutes of Health.
In the end of first trimester, the production of hCG gradually decreases and then begin to reach its balance. And therefore, your NVP should also gradually decreases at that time.
How about estrogen? The elevated level of estrogen in pregnancy is expected. This process is needed to prepare the body for pregnancy and to support the growth of baby. And it’s also thought that estrogen may have contribution to cause NVP.
Issues associated with the digestive system itself
Pregnancy may make you become more vulnerable to have certain digestive problems. As a result, you’re likely to have nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
For example, a quite common infection that affects the stomach which may lead to NVP is bacterial infection caused by Helicobacter pylori.
The existence of molar pregnancy
Again, NVP is a normal part of your pregnancy. However sometimes it might point to pregnancy abnormalities, particularly if it is severe and persists longer than usual.
The National Institutes of Health suggests that severe nausea and vomiting could be molar pregnancy symptoms. It is a condition of when the uterus doesn’t contain fetus but something else that forms a mass in the uterus. Fortunately molar pregnancy is rare!
The link between gestational diabetes and nausea
Nausea and vomiting are less common symptoms of type-2 diabetes, but they are quite common in type-1 diabetes. How about in gestational diabetes (GD)?
When talking about nauseated feeling and diabetes, there is a condition called gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis is a medical term used to describe delayed stomach emptying. If you have it, your stomach can be difficult to empty itself naturally. As a result, you are more likely to feel full more quickly. This might also cause nausea and vomiting. What’s more?
