Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy

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Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes is caused as a result of increased blood sugar levels during pregnancy. It is believed that upto 10% pregnant women get affected by this in the U.S. You needn’t have ever been diagnosed with diabetes in order to get this during your pregnancy.

What is Gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes management may include food and activity changes, blood glucose monitoring and prescribed medication. Your diabetes team will tailor your plan. Australian medication guidance.

Gestational diabetes usually resolves after birth, but this is not guaranteed. Arrange the recommended follow-up glucose test and ongoing diabetes checks with your doctor. NDSS follow-up guidance.

What causes Gestational Diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas when you eat; insulin helps regulate the level of glucose in your blood by moving it to the cells which use it for energy. What happens during pregnancy is that the placenta makes hormones that cause glucose levels to rise in the blood. Normally the pancreas are able to manage the glucose levels by sending out enough insulin. However, if it is unable to produce enough insulin, the sugar levels in the blood rise, causing gestational diabetes.

When do you get Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 6 to 9% pregnant women tend to develop gestational diabetes?

What are the signs of gestational diabetes?

Most women don’t have active symptoms or gestational diabetes signs and tend to find out about it during a routine prenatal screening.

However certain common patterns have been noticed which include:

Being thirstier than usual
Being hungrier and eating more than the regular
Excessive urination frequently
Fatigue which maybe confused for pregnancy fatigue

How do you diagnose GD?

If you are high risk category then your doctor will check you earlier than usual; else the time for getting this test is between 24 to 28 weeks in the second half of the pregnancy.

In Australia, gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed with a fasting oral glucose tolerance test. Blood samples are taken before the glucose drink and at one and two hours afterwards. Follow your pathology service’s preparation instructions. NDSS explains the test.

If these tests are normal but your fall in the high-risk category, the doctor may test your blood glucose levels from time to time.

How to prevent gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes can occur despite healthy habits. A diagnosis is not your fault. Discuss your personal risk and care plan with your pregnancy team.

For those who are overweight, leading an inactive lifestyle devoid of exercise and not eating a nutritional diet a few steps can help reduce the risk of getting gestational diabetes.

The following lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of both gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes, before conception as well as while you are pregnant.

Staying active is a great way to keep the blood sugar in control. Doing something as basic as a 15-minute walk post each meal helps the body to burn sugar.
Choose a balanced eating pattern with advice from a dietitian experienced in gestational diabetes. Carbohydrate foods provide important nutrients; the type, portion and distribution across the day all matter. NDSS eating guidance.
Keep a check on your weight and maintain a healthy pregnancy weight and BMI. Take the help of your practitioner to achieve this.

What problems can Gestational Diabetes cause for you and your baby?

If you have gestational diabetes and you are not being able to control the blood sugar levels, it could cause problems for both you and the baby.

An Extra-Large Baby and C-Section

High blood glucose can increase the chance of a larger baby and birth complications, including a greater likelihood of caesarean birth. A caesarean is not inevitable; your maternity team will discuss your individual birth plan. NDSS explains the risks.

High Blood Pressure or Preeclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition requiring medical assessment. Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as a severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling of your hands, feet or face, or pain under your ribs. Read Healthdirect’s pre-eclampsia guidance.

Low Blood Sugar or Hypoglycaemia

Consumption of diabetes medication and insulin can lead to low blood sugar in people. This is serious and can even prove to be fatal if not monitored and treated at an early stage. The baby is prone to developing low blood sugar post birth incase the mother’s diabetes was not controlled during the pregnancy – in this case the baby’s blood sugar needs to be monitored post-delivery.

Tips for women with GD – GD Diet and Exercise

1. Gestational Diabetes Diet

- Get a healthy meal plan from a dietician that will also help control the blood sugar while pregnant. Ideally follow a meal plan for someone with diabetes and watch portion sizes.
- Choose naturally occurring sugars like raisins, fruits, carrots etc. instead of sugary snacks like ice cream, cookies and candies. Eat whole grains and vegetables.
- Eat three small meals and two or three snacks daily at fixed times. Control your portion sizes.
- Try and include about 20-35 grams of fibre daily. Foods high in fibre are oatmeal, whole-grain breads and cereals, wild rice, brown rice, fruits and vegetables.
- Your dietitian can advise on a suitable balance of nutrients for pregnancy and your glucose management.
- Eat food rich in vitamins and minerals and take supplements as prescribed by your doctor.

Do not use restrictive eating or weight loss as a way to avoid prescribed insulin. Work with your diabetes team on a pregnancy-appropriate meal plan. Medication may still be needed even when you follow food and activity advice. Do not change prescribed treatment without your clinician’s advice. NDSS medication guidance.

2. Exercise Regularly

Exercise helps to keep a check on the blood sugar. Check with your doctor about the recommended form of exercise during pregnancy and post-delivery. At least some form of moderate physical activity – around 30 minutes daily, like swimming, yoga and walking could be suggested and this will keep you fit and manage blood sugar.

3. Keep a check on your blood sugar

Since the amount of energy required by your body during pregnancy changes from stage to stage, the sugar levels change very frequently. It is important to monitor the blood sugar as advised by the doctor. You may be required to take insulin as well to control the blood glucose levels.

Get Tested for Diabetes after Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes may or may not go away post-delivery. It is important to get tested between 6 to 12 weeks post the delivery of your baby and every 1 to 3 years, thereafter. Diabetes may reappear in the form of Type 2 diabetes at a later stage. It is important that you follow a healthy and active lifestyle to prevent or delay this condition.

Getting the right prenatal care is very important. Apart from screening you for gestational diabetes a doctor can best advice on the healthy habits like food, activity and optimum weight that one must adopt in order to heave a healthy pregnancy. With the right guidance and adoption of a healthy lifestyle, you are good to go!!

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