Happy World Health Day!
This year’s World Health Day theme is Diabetes. When we think of diabetes it is not often in connection to pregnancy, however gestational diabetes can cause serious complications during childbirth, jeopardizing the health of the mother and infant.
Every Woman is at Risk
In fact, even women who have never had diabetes before pregnancy are still susceptible to the disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, gestational diabetes occurs when the mother’s body is not able to produce all of the insulin needed to support the pregnancy. Without the insulin needed, glucose is not able to leave the blood and convert into energy, resulting in the accumulation of glucose and increasing the mother’s blood sugar levels. According to the World Health Organization, 8-10% of pregnant women in Guatemala are diagnosed with gestational diabetes annually.
Casa Maternas: Our Commitment to Prevent Gestational Diabetes in Guatemala
Impact Global Health Alliance has worked for over 15 years in rural Guatemala building health programs that provide education and care to mothers and children. We prevent gestational diabetes by working with mothers from Day 1 of their pregnancy. Impact Global Health Alliance staff and community volunteers engage mothers in conversations and activities around nutrition and the warning signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes, and also monitor high-risk cases. Mothers are encouraged to eat a significant amount of fruits and vegetables, and avoid sugary beverages. Healthy foods not only help to prevent gestational diabetes, but provide the nutritional support that the baby needs.
Preparation and Prevention Saves Lives.
By preventing gestational diabetes we are avoiding birth complications that could result in the death of the mother or infant. Minimizing cesarean births is a particularly important since these types of deliveries require women to travel over 6 hours by car to the nearest hospital. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes is also extremely important so that the mother can be referred to hospital for the birth, and prevent the need for emergency medical transportation while the mother is in labor.
You Can Help Prevent Gestational Diabetes
Wondering why this should matter to you? Simple. Your support ensures that healthy mothers have healthy deliveries and give birth to strong babies! Your donations help to sustain the Casa Materna program in Guatemala, which provides medical care and health education to thousands of women and children living in poverty in the Guatemala highlands.
