You’re pregnant. Your health practitioner conducted a simple glucose tolerance test and found out that you have gestational diabetes. Should you be worried that you have developed gestational diabetes? Yes. It means that you need to keep your blood sugar levels under control by watching your diet to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a condition developed during pregnancy and is only a type of diabetes that non-diabetic women develop. Approximately 2-7% of pregnant women develop this condition, and it is one of the most common health problems experienced while pregnant.
During pregnancy, a woman develops hormonal changes. The placenta makes increased amounts of hormones. This interferes with her body’s ability to manage glucose (sugar) levels. As a result, she develops insulin resistance. As the pregnancy progresses, this resistance can increase because the placenta grows larger. This causes larger amounts of hormones to be made and increases insulin resistance.
Most of the time, the pancreas can produce enough insulin to ward off insulin resistance. In some women, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. This makes their sugar level increase, causing gestational diabetes.
Signs & Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes doesn’t cause any noticeable signs or symptoms for most pregnant women. However, some pregnant moms may experience:
- Snoring
- Excess thirst
- Blurred vision
- Excessive hunger
- Frequent urination
- Frequent vaginal infections
- High levels of fatigue
- Nausea past the first trimester
- Frequent bladder infections
- Frequent skin infections
Who is at Risk for Gestational Diabetes?
You’re more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you:
- Were obese or overweight before pregnancy
- Are taking glucocorticoids
- Have gained too much weight while pregnant
- Have a family history of diabetes
- Are having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Have given birth to an infant weighing 4 Kgs or more
- Have a history of gestational diabetes
- Had an unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
- Are carrying multiples, such as triplets or twins
- Are more than 25 years old
- Are mother of a newborn with certain birth defects
- Are too inactive
- Are having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or heart disease
- Are Asian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, African-American, Pacific Islander, or Native American
Possible Complications of Diabetes During Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes can impose various health problems on you and your baby if not treated early.
Complications for your baby:
- Birth injury
- Premature birth
- Congenital disabilities
- Shoulder dystocia
- Stillbirth (fetal death)
- Preeclampsia
- Jaundice
- Serious breathing difficulties
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Early (preterm) birth
- Obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life
- Excessive birth weight, 10 pounds or more
Complications for the mother:
- Type 2 diabetes in the future
- Having a C-section
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- High blood pressure and preeclampsia
Getting Tested for Gestational Diabetes
A pregnant woman is tested for gestational diabetes between her 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. If the test comes back as abnormal, she will be tested again within a few hours.
If in a high-risk category, a pregnant woman should be tested as soon as possible. If the test is negative for gestational diabetes, she will be tested again between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy to confirm not having the complication.
Testing is done by drinking a sweetened solution. Within 60 minutes, blood will be taken out of the arm. It measures how well the sugar is processed in the body and determines the blood sugar level. If it is higher than 140 mg/dl, it is considered to be gestational diabetes. This is why following a gestational diabetes diet is so important.
How to Prevent or Treat Gestational Diabetes?
Several factors affect the treatment and prevention of diabetes during pregnancy, including:
- Your general health
- Your age during pregnancy
- The symptoms you experience
- How severe the condition is
Try these tips to reduce your chances of developing gestational diabetes:
- Eat foods with low amounts of carbohydrates
- Maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy
- Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly
- Indulge in pregnancy-friendly exercises
- Take insulin injections, if required
- Take oral medicines for hypoglycemia
Diagnosis for Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes can be divided into two groups:
Class A1: You can manage it with diet and exercise.
Class A2: Insulin or other types of oral medications are required to control it.
Thus, diagnosis for gestational diabetes include:
- Monitoring blood sugar levels regularly
- Proper diet and regular exercise
- Medications, when required
Regardless of what group of diabetes you develop during pregnancy, it will likely go away after pregnancy. However, to minimize the risk of developing type 2 diabetes as you get older, you’re suggested to check your blood glucose levels at regular intervals after childbirth.
Managing Gestational Diabetes Diet
To help maintain a “normal” blood sugar level (60 to 120 mg/dl):
- Avoid sugar and foods high in sugar
- Eat complex carbohydrates such as pasta, cereals, crackers, bread, potatoes, peas, rice, grains, and dried beans.
- Avoid saturated fats such as butter, bacon, cream, and whole milk cheese, and fatty meats
- Eat a snack before bedtime that is high in protein and carbohydrate-based.
- Eat fiber-rich foods such as bread, fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereals.
Tips to Mitigate the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
If you have developed diabetes during pregnancy, you can still reduce your chances of catching type 2 diabetes with the following tips:
- Monitor blood sugar regularly
- Follow a very-low-carb diet
- Exercise regularly
- Breastfeed as much as possible
- Lose pregnancy weight within six months of childbirth
- Cut sugar and refined carbs from your diet
- Minimize your intake of processed foods
Don’t Worry & Flaunt Your Bump in Style
One of the best things about gestational diabetes is that it can be easily treated with proper diet and exercise. So if you have developed gestational diabetes, don’t panic. Instead, enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest and flaunt your bump in style with comfortable and stylish maternity clothes.
There is a wide range of pregnancy wear available online that you can purchase to wear from bump to baby. Some of the best maternity essentials you can invest in are:
- Lightweight and soft maternity nightwear
- Easy breezy maternity kaftans
- High-stretch maternity yoga wear
- Flowy maternity dresses
- Nursing-friendly maternity tops
- Two-piece maternity co-ord sets
- Maternity jeans, leggings, and pants
Spice up your look according to your comfort and style!
