We discussed diabetes and the importance of maintaining glucose homeostasis for overall metabolic health in our classes on glycogen synthesis and breakdown. The two most common types are Type 1 diabetes, where an autoimmune attack on the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin results in insufficient insulin production, and Type 2 diabetes, where insulin resistance impairs the ability of tissues, like the liver and skeletal muscles, to respond to insulin signals.
A less frequently discussed form is gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy and usually resolves following delivery. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, gestational diabetes occurs when hormones secreted by the placenta, an organ that grows in the uterus to support fetal development and produce hormones to maintain the pregnancy, induce resistance to insulin. Gestational diabetes can have several effects on the infant, most notably macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycemia. Macrosomia refers to an infant that is larger than normal, and neonatal hypoglycemia is low blood sugar in an infant immediately after delivery.
Last year, I supported Dr. Caroline LaFave’s research on interconception care, which aims to improve birth outcomes. Interconception care refers to the care provided to individuals between pregnancies and is crucial for identifying and addressing risk factors that may negatively impact future pregnancies. Dr. LaFave screened her patients for four risk factors: smoking, depression, family planning, and prenatal and multivitamin use. It would be beneficial to also screen patients for gestational diabetes and to consider gestational diabetes as a factor in her research on birthing outcomes. Women who develop gestational diabetes during one pregnancy are at significantly higher risk of developing it in subsequent pregnancies, so early identification and management between pregnancies could therefore improve maternal metabolic health and future birth outcomes.
I really liked how you connected glycolysis to your own experience as an athlete. It’s something most people feel but don’t really think about on a biochemical level. The part where you talked about the “burning” sensation made a lot of sense after learning about lactic acid buildup and anaerobic glycolysis in class. I also thought it was interesting how you mentioned enzyme regulation—especially how phosphofructokinase-1 controls the pace of the pathway depending on energy needs. It’s cool to realize how our bodies adjust so quickly during exercise. Your reflection made the pathway feel a lot more real and connected to daily life.
I really enjoyed reading your reflection and learning about the connection you made between glucose homeostasis and interconception care. I find it interesting how gestational diabetes can affect not only the pregnancy in which it occurs but also future pregnancies. I also appreciated your clear and concise explanation of gestational diabetes, which I hadn’t known much about before reading your post. Your suggestion to include gestational diabetes as a screening factor in Dr. LaFave’s research seems like a practical and impactful way to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.