Disease Process Gestational Diabetes MellitusIntroductionGestational diabetes mellitus is a disorder that manifests toward the later stages of pregnancy. The pregnant mother develops insulin resistance and eventually becomes glucose intolerant. There are several reasons why diabetes occurs and it is thought to be similar to the underlying system that causes gestational diabetes mellitus. “Diabetes is the result of pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, which can present in three main ways: autoimmune, a genetic cause and in addition to already present insulin resistance (Ferrara and Kim 2010) . Autoimmune diabetes represents approximately 5 to 10% of cases. all cases of diabetes (US Dept. of Health 2010). There are circulating antibodies against islet B cells and in women with gestational diabetes mellitus, these antibodies are present in their circulation. Women are thought to have problems with insulin secretion during pregnancy, caused by islet destruction by autoantibodies (Ferrara and Kim 2010). “Gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy may lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in the newborn, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. This is the result of increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators present during pregnancy” (Petry 2014). The placenta also serves as a buffer to prevent glucose from entering the fetus. During a normal pregnancy, the mother provides the fetus with a constant supply of nutrients via the placenta for growth and development. In gestational diabetes mellitus, there is excess glucose produced at high levels and the placenta is not able to buffer the excess glucose, leading to complications......middle of the paper.... ..glucose intolerance, she is also at risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus in subsequent pregnancies. Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy are also at greater risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus. Certain ethnic origins may be an indicator of risk; Hispanic, African, Native American, or Pacific Islander women have a high incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus. Signs and Symptoms Most women with gestational diabetes mellitus do not have any extreme symptoms. The symptoms that may occur are not normally life-threatening. Some of the symptoms the woman may experience are blurred vision, frequent urination, fatigue, increased thirst or urination, and nausea and vomiting. Some of the symptoms experienced by the woman are undetectable and can be considered normal symptoms of pregnancy..@@@@@@