6 Tips for Women with Gestational Diabetes
November is American Diabetes Month. You’ve probably heard of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, but another kind of diabetes can affect pregnant women: gestational diabetes.
Our board-certified medical team at The Healthy Woman focuses on your health care needs as a woman. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, high-quality prenatal care is your best bet for ensuring a problem-free journey, and staying informed is key.
Following is a primer on gestational diabetes and six strategies for managing it successfully.
About gestational diabetes
Unless you’ve had a friend or loved one diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it’s probably just a medical term you’ve heard but don’t know much about. Now that you’re pregnant, you should learn about issues that can arise so you can deal with them at an early stage.
You can feel your body going through many changes when you’re pregnant. Sometimes during pregnancy women’s bodies are unable to regulate insulin, the hormone that controls your blood sugar levels. When this happens, your sugar levels can go up, leading to gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes affects up to 10% of women in the United States every year. Thankfully, it’s usually temporary, and in most cases, it resolves after you give birth.
By keeping your regularly scheduled pregnancy appointments, we can detect gestational diabetes in its early stages and help you manage it. We develop a plan to help you control your blood sugar during this important time to make sure everything goes smoothly for you and your baby.
Poorly controlled gestational diabetes increases your risk for complications such as:
High blood pressure (preeclampsia)
You may have heard the term preeclampsia. It means having high blood pressure when you’re pregnant. This condition can cause problems such as premature birth and, in severe cases, can be life-threatening for both you and your baby.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Gestational diabetes can affect not only your health, but also the health of your baby. Your baby may develop hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, after birth. Your baby’s insulin production is high because of the excess glucose in your blood, so your pediatrician should monitor your new baby's blood sugar levels.
Large birth weight (macrosomia)
Another risk of gestational diabetes is macrosomia, meaning your baby grows too large for normal vaginal delivery, resulting in possible injury to your baby and/or you.
Cesarean section (C-section)
Having surgery always carries risk. If your baby is very large, you may need a C-section. Cesarean section deliveries carry risk of infection and a longer recovery time.
Follow-up appointments after childbirth are just as important as pregnancy appointments. If you have gestational diabetes when pregnant, you’re at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later on. We continue to monitor you at each well woman appointment.
Tips for managing gestational diabetes
Learning about gestational diabetes helps equip you to protect your baby and yourself. Meanwhile, here are some things you can do to lower your risk of complications.
Eat healthily — avoid processed foods
What you eat matters when you have gestational diabetes. Now is the time to eat a healthy diet, meaning lots of lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid or limit processed foods high in refined sugars and bad fats such as store-bought cakes, cookies, snack bars, and candy.
Get enough exercise
Being active helps regulate your blood sugar levels. Get some exercise every day, whether it’s a 30-minute walk in the neighborhood or prenatal yoga. On the other hand, you don’t want to overdo it. Check with your doctor on the right activity level for you.
Check your blood sugar levels regularly
We show you how and when to check your blood sugar, explaining the ideal levels and how to know when something’s amiss. We check your blood sugar when you come in for appointments, but this is a crucial everyday task for you while you’re pregnant.
Take your medication (if and when needed)
If you need medication to control your blood sugar, we prescribe it. Take it as directed every day.
Keep every regular prenatal appointment
Your prenatal appointments enable us to monitor your progress and make any necessary changes to your treatment plan.
Reach out for emotional support
We’re part of your support team while you’re pregnant. But gestational diabetes adds a layer of stress you didn’t expect. Reach out to support groups, a therapist, or your loved ones for emotional support.
Call us at The Healthy Woman or request an appointment through our online portal today for pregnancy care and all of your healthcare needs. We have offices in Snellville and Lawrenceville, Georgia.