Latest from us.
Here you can find the latest articles from us.
Join our mailing list for press releases here.
Here you can find the latest articles from us.
Join our mailing list for press releases here.
September 29 2022
It’s every new parent’s wish to have a pregnancy without problems, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. One of the possible complications that mothers-to-be face is gestational diabetes, which causes elevated blood glucose in pregnant women who do not otherwise suffer from type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
The symptoms of the condition are typical of diabetes: excessive thirst, frequent urination and increased hunger. Severely elevated blood glucose can also cause blurred vision, nausea and even vomiting. While gestational diabetes typically disappears after the birth, it can affect the health of the baby and its mother – both during pregnancy and later in life.
Estimates of the prevalence of gestational diabetes vary from region to region. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that between 2% and 10% of pregnancies are affected by the condition.11 In Europe, prevalence is estimated at an average of around 11%, although in some parts of the continent it’s higher than 30%.22 Across 16 countries in the Middle East it’s estimated at 13%, and in sub-Saharan Africa at about 9%.33,44 Estimates for Asia average out at 11.5%.55 It should be noted that the accuracy of these figures is subject to the quality of available data, and dependent upon the timely diagnosis and registration of patient information.
What causes gestational diabetes? And why does it affect some women but not others?
During pregnancy the placenta secretes several hormones to keep mother and baby healthy. These include estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and human placental lactogen. In some cases the build up of these hormones can affect the body’s ability to use the insulin produced in the pancreas, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. As the placenta grows it produces more of these hormones, which is why the onset of gestational diabetes typically occurs in weeks 20 to 24 of pregnancy.
Some of the risk factors for contracting the insulin-resistant condition are the same as those associated with type 2 diabetes. Women who are overweight, have high blood pressure and a family history of diabetes are more prone to gestational diabetes. Certain ethnic groups are also more at risk than others.
Gestational diabetes poses several dangers to a mother and her baby.
One of the dangers of gestational diabetes is macrosomia – a baby that is much larger than it should be. If the mother’s blood glucose is consistently elevated, then the fetus will convert the excess glucose into fat. This can mean that the baby becomes too big for the mother’s birth canal and trauma is suffered during birth, or that delivery needs to take place via cesarean section.
Babies born overweight due to gestational diabetes are also more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. So too are their mothers.
Another danger to the baby is hypoglycemia – low blood glucose – immediately upon delivery. If the mother has elevated blood glucose, then the fetus produces a lot of insulin to compensate. When the baby is born and separated from the placenta, this excess insulin can cause its blood glucose to quickly fall to a dangerous level.
Gestational diabetes also raises the risk of preeclampsia in the mother. This pregnancy complication is characterized by high blood pressure, as well as high levels of protein in the urine that can signal damage to the kidneys or other organs. Aside from being a danger to the mother, preeclampsia can mean that the baby does not receive blood, oxygen and nutrients in the amounts that it needs in order to grow properly.
How can pregnant women avoid getting gestational diabetes?
As with other forms of diabetes, the key to lowering the risk of contracting gestational diabetes – or controlling the condition once diagnosed – is to maintain good overall health both prior to and during pregnancy. This means avoiding high-carb snacks and eating a diet high in vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean meats and healthy fats. Exercise is key too. Low intensity activities such as walking can have a remarkable effect on controlling blood glucose.
In cases of diagnosed gestational diabetes, blood glucose must be monitored daily. Doctors may also prescribe oral medication, or even insulin injections. The baby’s growth should also be closely monitored.
This story is based on information from the following sources:
One of the risks during pregnancy is gestational diabetes, a condition that can harm both mother and baby if left untreated.
Read the full article here.
On June 1st Rania El Bishbishi joined Brighter as our new Medical Engagement Lead for the Middle East. She spoke to us about her long experience within the medical community, diabetes prevalence in the region, and Brighter’s upcoming pilot study in the UAE.
Read the full article here.
Brighter’s upcoming user pilot in Indonesia is set to start. We spoke with some of the supervising doctors about the state of diabetes in the country, including the challenges for patients and caregivers – and how Brighter’s Actiste solution might potentially help.
Read the full article here.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador-designate to Sweden and Iceland, Her Excellency Einas Al-Shahwan, visited Brighter’s office in Stockholm last week. The visit was aimed at opening up new possibilities for Brighter in Saudi Arabia.
Read the full article here.
Product Manager Thor Sundsvik is a key member of the team bringing Actiste® to market. He spoke to us about some of Brighter’s learnings and why he’s excited about the company’s current momentum.
Read the full article here.
Physician Dr. Haifa Fares in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is optimistic that the country’s need for improved diabetes management can be supported by Brighter’s Actiste® solution.
Read the full article here.
Principal Investigator Dr Adrian Heald, consultant endocrinologist at Salford Royal Hospital in the UK, about leading a clinical research with Actiste.
Read the full article here.
The number of people living with diabetes is increasing every year, and treating diabetes-related diseases represents a large cost for global healthcare. Johnny Ludvigsson, one of the world’s top ten experts and researchers on type 1 diabetes, looks forward to working with Brighter and its digital solutions that strive to make it easier for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Read the full article here.
Bringing a solution like Actiste® to market requires a top-notch supply chain and smooth delivery operations. Our logistics team and partners work hard to optimize the whole process.
Read the full article here.
Any physical illness can have an impact on your mental health too. Diabetes is no different.
Read the full article here.
Exercising with insulin-treated diabetes can be challenging. Yet many athletes with diabetes perform at their peak.
Read the full article here.
It’s estimated almost a quarter of a billion adults have diabetes without realizing it. The consequences of this can be devastating.
Read the full article here.
Elisa Forsman from Finland specializes in training dogs to detect blood-glucose changes experienced by people with diabetes.
Read the full article here.
Nesreen is Brighter’s diabetes-specialist nurse and researcher in the UAE. Her expertise plays a critical role in our work with patients and other stakeholders.
Read the full article here.
UAE telecom engineer and father of five Khaled Albolushi shares his experience of living with diabetes since the mid 90s.
Read the full article here.
UAE banker and business owner Eyad Dahir shares his experience of living with type 1 diabetes for the past 28 years.
Read the full article here.
Osy Machrosin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2015 at the age of 25. He spoke to us about learning to live with the condition and how he’s working to raise diabetes awareness in Indonesia.
Read the full article here.
Since the invention of insulin treatment in 1921, researchers have continued to make significant advancements to this life-saving therapy.
Read the full article here.
The discovery of insulin treatment 100 years ago became a race against time to save a teenage boy’s life. Here’s that story.
Read the full article here.
Johan Möller heads Brighters operations in Indonesia & Southeast Asia. We spoke to him about building Swedish businesses abroad and the Actiste pilot project in West Java.
Read the full article here.
Through April and May 2021, Muslims around the world have been fasting as part of Islam’s most sacred month: Ramadan. We spoke to Brighter’s UAE-based family medicine specialist Rasha Husam about managing diabetes during this time.
Read the full article here.
Our subsidiary Camanio Care has pivoted to developing digital services for Swedish elderly care. Now a partnership with Siemens is helping the company to roll out this new strategy.
Read the full article here.
Medical Doctor Adintya P. Gusti is Brighter’s market specialist from Southeast Asia. She has conducted a qualitative study among diabetes-care professionals in Indonesia to assess their views on how digital services can help the country address unmet needs.
Read the full article here.
Brighter’s subsidiary Nectarine Health is on a mission to help seniors live in their homes for longer. The company’s story is one of clever technology, identifying an unmet need, and making the decision to pivot in a new direction.
Read the full article here.
Dragan Zdravkovic (MD, MSc) is Brighter’s Head of Medical Affairs. He shares some insights on working with the scientific community and using data to improve diabetes treatment.
Read the full article here.
Today the team behind Actiste draws attention to an aspect of living with diabetes that is often overlooked: the mental burden.
Read the full article here.
We recently announced a partnership with the provincial government of West Java, Indonesia to deliver 100 Actiste devices to hospitals in the region. The six-month pilot project is a step towards digital care for the millions of Indonesians living with diabetes.
Read the full article here.
Diabetes is a risk factor for Covid-19 complications, so healthcare professionals are turning to remote treatment to keep patients with diabetes safe. Actiste was made for this.
Read the full article here.
The award-winning Actiste diabetes-care service is now available in Sweden. It’s the first of many markets to come.
Read the full article here.
We have our own podcast! You can find the episodes on your favourite podcast app or find us on Spotify here!
Email the show: podcast@brighter.se