THIS HABIT CAN AFFECT THE ONSET OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES
American researchers have found that pregnant women who are more exposed to screens before bed are more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Exposure to light at night reduces: levels of the hormone melatonin, disrupts the body’s internal clock, and affects blood sugar regulation.
Gestational diabetes manifests itself as reduced glucose tolerance, and most often occurs between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. It disappears after delivery, when hormones return to normal levels (usually 6 weeks after delivery). This condition affects at least four to five out of 100 women during pregnancy, and if it is not treated, it can cause unwanted consequences for the baby as well as for the mother.
If gestational diabetes is not controlled well enough, it can lead to serious health problems for the baby, including death. The research was conducted on more than 700 pregnant women to see how exposure to light before bed affects their health. Although only a small number of women developed gestational diabetes, the results revealed that the link does exist.
