According to the CDC and new diagnostic criteria, it is estimated that about 18% of pregnancies will be affected by gestational diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes – don’t fret! While gestational diabetes can lead to either the mother or child after diabetes, there are some ways to decrease your chances. Before we get into that, let’s take a look at what exactly gestational diabetes is.

What exactly is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes happens to pregnant women who were not previously diagnosed with any type of diabetes and who have high blood suger (glucose) levels. While the official cause of gestational diabetes is still unknown, their are some definitive clues as to what might be some of the contributing factors. As we know, pregnancy effects hormone production in the human body which, in turn, can block insulin production or prevent it being used adequately. Without efficient insulin production, glucose can’t leave the blood and be transformed into energy. When enough glucose builds up in the blood, it leads to hyperglycemia. The problem is that during pregnancy, the mother may need to produce up to three times as much insulin which only can expedite this process.
 

Complications that may arise

There are a few complications that could arise during a pregnancy affected by gestational diabetes.

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemic) of newborn baby
• Both the baby and mother can develop diabetes later in life
• Higher risk of baby dying or stillbirth
• Delivery complications due to size of baby (possibly leading to Caesarean section).

What are the gestational diabetes symptoms?

Usually, there are no physical symptoms that immediately give away whether you have it or not, or the symptoms are so mild that they are just misconceived as another cause from raging hormones. Most people find out after going to a doctor and test results show the unusually high levels of glucose. Here are some of the mild symptoms that people have experienced:

• Weight loss (despite an increase in appetite)
• Extreme thirst
• Excessive exhaustion or fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Increase in number of infections (vaginal, skin, bladder)
• Blurry vision
• Vomiting and nausea

These symptoms closely mimic the same side effects experienced during pregnancy which is why it is hard to diagnose gestational diabetes based solely off of physical indications. It is very important for all women to get an oral glucose tolerance test between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. This is the time period that most women start to develop or have already developed high levels of glucose. Some women who have a higher risk for gestational diabetes should consider getting checked earlier for the condition.

Prevention and treatment for gestational diabetes

There is no cure for gestational diabetes, however there are some things you can do to help protect your health and the health of your baby. The best thing to do is to get some preliminary test taken before attempting to get pregnant. Doctors can provide information as to how great your chances are of getting diabetes is and provide you with some different ways to reduce your chances.

The whole battle for those who have been diagnosed is to maintain their blood sugar to a reasonable level to avoid harming themselves or their baby. Here are some of the things you should do if recently diagnosed:

• Frequent visits to the doctor – Your doctor or health care provider should be constantly checking the health of you and your baby. They should perform fetal monitoring checks to ensure your baby is growing at the rate it should. This test monitors your baby’s heartbeat to make sure it is working at a normal rate. They should also check for normal heartbeats when the baby moves which is usually at a rate of about 15-20 beats above the regular heart rate.
• Get exercise – A lot of mothers think that when they become pregnant they get a 9-month break maintaining that perfect physique. This couldn’t be more wrong. It is actually more important to get exercise while pregnant to ensure the health of the baby. If you are overweight, decreasing your body mass index (BMI) will also help you decrease your chances of getting gestational diabetes.
• At-home glucose level checks – The most commons ways to test your glucose levels is pricking your finger. There are many companies that provide this little machines and should be covered if you have adequate medical insurance.
• Have a healthy diet – It is very important that you eat healthy for both you and your baby. Make good decisions when preparing food by reading the food labels. Talk to a dietician to help you better understand which types you should be consuming and how often. Read more below about what helps to make up a good gestational diabetes diet.

 

Gestational diabetes diet

Obviously you want to stay away from unhealthy foods from fast food chains, so lets break down some recommended dieting tips to help you and your baby stay healthy.

• Learn to love carbohydrates – Carbs are rich in starch and sugar, therefore they naturally have a great impact on blood glucose levels. Don’t stick straight to carbs though – it is important to balance them with protein and and fat at each meal.
• More meals, smaller portions – Most doctors are going to tell you to eat 3 small meals per day along with 2-3 snacks in between. It is important not to skip any meals as it makes sure you have a regular intake of sugar.
• Fiber, Fiber, Fiber! – foods like cerals, pastas, rice, fruits, veggies, and whole-grain breads will really help promote a balanced diet.
• Vitamins and minerals – ask your doctor whether it is safe for you to take prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements. You want to make sure your body has the nutritional ingredients to maintain a pregnancy.
• Drink lots of water – You need to be drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, which is equivalent to 64 ounces.
• Limit caffeine intake – Do not drink more than two cups of coffee per day (300 mg). Chocolate also contains caffeine, so make sure you are reading those food levels to make sure you are over-indulging!

Check out this video about a good gestational diabetes meal plan.


This post will be followed up with specific meals that are easy to make and great for diabetics.

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Image credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66709294@N05/6126641064/