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Home > Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes
If you are pregnant and have just been
diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you
are probably filled with concern and
uncertainty. What does it mean for you?
What does it mean for your baby? What
are the risks and complications associated
with this condition?
Don’t worry. Educating yourself about
gestational diabetes, working closely with
your health care professional and taking
good care of yourself will help you have
a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes, also known as glucose intolerance of pregnancy, is a type of
diabetes that begins during pregnancy and goes away after giving birth. It affects
approximately 4% of all pregnant women.
Sometimes the development of the baby can cause insulin resistance in the mother.
This is when the body can not use the insulin it produces to get glucose into the cells
and convert it into energy. Without being able to enter the cells, glucose builds up in
the bloodstream, causing hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose.
What are the Risks for Developing Gestational Diabetes?
If you have a family history of diabetes, are obese, or are of Hispanic or African
American decent, you might have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes
while pregnant. Other risk factors for gestational diabetes include:
Gestational diabetes present in a previous pregnancy
Being of older age when pregnant (over 30)
Previous delivery of baby over 9 pounds
Previous miscarriage
Are there Risks for the Baby?
Although gestational diabetes usually occurs between the 24th and 28th week of
pregnancy, after the baby has already been formed, there are complications that
associated with gestational diabetes that can hurt your baby if you don’t get the right
treatment or don’t take care of yourself properly.
Gestational diabetes can lead to macrosomia, or a large fat baby. Babies with
macrosomia can have other health problems, like injury or damage to their shoulders
when being born (shoulder dystocia), low blood sugar (neonatal hypoglycemia), low
blood calcium, jaundice and breathing problems (respiratory distress syndrome)
Although gestational diabetes can cause complications for you and your baby, don’t
panic, remember that you can do a lot to prevent them. Controlling gestational
diabetes can help you avoid serious complications.
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
Discuss with your health care professional which treatment options are best for
you. Controlling your blood sugar levels is essential in gestational diabetes
treatment. Your doctor may also suggest a special diet, which you should follow
very carefully. Physical activity and exercise are also important in controlling
gestational diabetes. Consult with your doctor which exercise routine is right and
safe for you. In some cases, insulin shots may also be needed.
Although gestational diabetes goes away after birth, your chances of having it again
in a future pregnancy or developing type 2 diabetes are now higher. For that reason,
you should keep having a healthy lifestyle after giving birth to help prevent type 2
diabetes. Eat healthy, maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
Knowing that you have gestational diabetes can be scary. But if you follow your
doctor’s advice and take care of yourself the way you should, controlling gestational
diabetes will lead to a happy, healthy mommy and baby.
Guidelines for a Healthy Gestational Diabetes Diet
Pregnancy and Diabetes: What You Should Know
If you are pregnant and have just been
diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you
are probably filled with concern and
uncertainty. What does it mean for you?
What does it mean for your baby? What
are the risks and complications associated
with this condition?
Don’t worry. Educating yourself about
gestational diabetes, working closely with
your health care professional and taking
good care of yourself will help you have
a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes, also known as glucose intolerance of pregnancy, is a type of
diabetes that begins during pregnancy and goes away after giving birth. It affects
approximately 4% of all pregnant women.
Sometimes the development of the baby can cause insulin resistance in the mother.
This is when the body can not use the insulin it produces to get glucose into the cells
and convert it into energy. Without being able to enter the cells, glucose builds up in
the bloodstream, causing hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose.
What are the Risks for Developing Gestational Diabetes?
If you have a family history of diabetes, are obese, or are of Hispanic or African
American decent, you might have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes
while pregnant. Other risk factors for gestational diabetes include:
Gestational diabetes present in a previous pregnancy
Being of older age when pregnant (over 30)
Previous delivery of baby over 9 pounds
Previous miscarriage
Are there Risks for the Baby?
Although gestational diabetes usually occurs between the 24th and 28th week of
pregnancy, after the baby has already been formed, there are complications that
associated with gestational diabetes that can hurt your baby if you don’t get the right
treatment or don’t take care of yourself properly.
Gestational diabetes can lead to macrosomia, or a large fat baby. Babies with
macrosomia can have other health problems, like injury or damage to their shoulders
when being born (shoulder dystocia), low blood sugar (neonatal hypoglycemia), low
blood calcium, jaundice and breathing problems (respiratory distress syndrome)
Although gestational diabetes can cause complications for you and your baby, don’t
panic, remember that you can do a lot to prevent them. Controlling gestational
diabetes can help you avoid serious complications.
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
Discuss with your health care professional which treatment options are best for
you. Controlling your blood sugar levels is essential in gestational diabetes
treatment. Your doctor may also suggest a special diet, which you should follow
very carefully. Physical activity and exercise are also important in controlling
gestational diabetes. Consult with your doctor which exercise routine is right and
safe for you. In some cases, insulin shots may also be needed.
Although gestational diabetes goes away after birth, your chances of having it again
in a future pregnancy or developing type 2 diabetes are now higher. For that reason,
you should keep having a healthy lifestyle after giving birth to help prevent type 2
diabetes. Eat healthy, maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
Knowing that you have gestational diabetes can be scary. But if you follow your
doctor’s advice and take care of yourself the way you should, controlling gestational
diabetes will lead to a happy, healthy mommy and baby.
Guidelines for a Healthy Gestational Diabetes Diet
Pregnancy and Diabetes: What You Should Know
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information that will inform you of the latest developments in the health industry,
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over diabetes. Subscribe today!
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