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Marketing manager Christine Newton can't believe how much joy little Indiana has bought into her life. But her first pregnancy was frightening for her after she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 28 weeks. "It was definitely terrifying once you find out and then told of the risks that come with diabetes, it is a shock," the 36-year-old said. "The potential of still birth, premature birth, having a bigger baby and jaundice. "I was also very surprised as I am a healthy person, but I was happy to tackle the disease." One in five pregnant women diagnosed Statistically Ms Newton is among "one in five" of pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes. A patient at Australia's largest maternity hospital The Mater Mothers in Brisbane, she was put onto a management plan where she had to test her glucose levels four times a day. She used an app co-designed by the CSIRO called "Mother" to log and send data to nutritionists — who helped create a diet and exercise regime to reduce sugar levels. "I was definitely worrying about my fasting levels, that I would have to have insulin when I woke up every day," Ms Newton said. "But I managed that with the help of the team, especially the nutritionists." Cute as a button, Indiana is now two weeks old and doing just fine. Ms Newton is still managing her diet and exercise regime, along with the sleepless nights that come with newborns. Associate Professor Jo Laurie, who is director of obstetrics at the Mater, said there had been a dramatic increase in diagnosis over the last five years of 70 per cent. "Women often feel like they are at fault when they get diagnosed, and quite concerned they have done something," she said. She said the spike was partly due to hormonal differences from the placenta, but it had also been put down to women being older in their first pregnancy; possibly overweight and not doing enough exercise. Staggering rise in cases needing injections Data shows a third need insulin injections for their entire pregnancies, while the remaining 70 per cent can treat the disease with diet and sometimes tablets. Associate Professor Laurie said there was also a danger postpartum with women at risk of kidney and heart disease in the future. They also have a 30 per cent to 50 per cent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 10 to 15 years. While Christine's gestational diabetes went away after she gave birth, she is now being monitored for risk factors in the long term through the Mater's new postnatal clinic. "We see them in the first year after the pregnancy and have clear links with their GPs", she said. "We were one of the first, and leader in Australia, and it is being championed now in other facilities. "Unlike a lot of care and medical research for men this has been missing for women. We are trying to be advocates for women's health." Extremely concerning epidemic Diabetes Australia's chief medical officer professor David Simmons said the spike was extremely concerning, with lifestyle reasons mostly driving it. "It is extremely concerning, we do not want these large numbers of people having these kind of risks" he said. "One of the things we have picked up is that a large number come into pregnancy with pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. "And later on during the pregnancy there is a surge of insulin resistance and that adds a further number of women who can't make enough insulin for their own needs. "The larger they are the more risk they have of getting gestational diabetes. "And as you get older you do not make enough insulin when pregnant". He said there was a global debate about how high blood glucose levels should be, before a doctor should raise a red flag. "Glucose levels fluctuate, so when you draw a line and say if you are above this you have got something if you are below it then you don't you are going to miss some on either side," Professor Simmons said. Last year new national guidelines were introduced, and potentially affect more than 280,000 pregnant Australian women every year. They will still have an oral glucose tolerance test, a measure of how the body processes sugar. The test involves fasting overnight, and having a blood test in the morning before drinking a sugary drink. Then there are two more blood tests over two hours. However, fewer women will have this test twice in their pregnancy. The guidelines have been published in The Medical Journal of Australia. As for Christine, who is still recovering from a caesarean, staying on top of her risk factors is a no-brainer. "It is always there and the habits I have learnt now will help me not to get diabetes in the future I hope," she said.
