Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that affects
pregnant women. The symptoms are usually minor such as blurred vision, fatigue,
and increase thirst and urination. However, these symptoms can signal a
dangerous increase in blood glucose that can affect the lives of you and your
unborn baby. Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed through an oral blood
glucose tolerance test. It can also be diagnosed through a fasting blood
glucose test. If the pregnant mother’s blood sugar is elevated above 126 then
the diagnosis is confirmed. Usually the mother’s blood sugar returns to normal
after the baby is born. However, she is now at increased risk to developing
Type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years. It is recommended that she continue
to eat healthy and exercise to help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
It is important to get regular prenatal care especially if
you have gestational diabetes. The increase blood sugar can put undue stress on
the mother and baby. The baby will be unusually large at birth, could have
hypoglycemia after birth, and can get jaundice. Babies born to women with
gestational diabetes are more prone to childhood – and adult - obesity and type
2 diabetes.
Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes will need to
monitor their blood sugar and make the recommended dietary changes to keep
their blood glucose within normal limits. This can be done with diet alone but
sometimes women will need insulin or other anti-diabetic drugs. The diet for
gestational diabetes is very similar to other forms of diabetes. Women must
monitor their intake of carbohydrates to keep their insulin levels working
normally. Carbohydrate counting is the process of counting how many
carbohydrates you are eating and balancing that with the amount of insulin you
will need to inject. The process works for those on insulin and those you do
not need it. The steady carbohydrate intake is the main driver of insulin
production. If the amount of carbohydrates you take in is not steady blood
sugar will go haywire. You will need to see a Registered Dietitian who will
give you a diet that spells out how many carbohydrates you will need to consume
at each meal. Following this diet will help keep you and your baby healthy.
In general, carbohydrate counting consists of choosing
complex carbohydrate foods that will slowly raise blood sugar and keep spikes
in check. The goal is to keep blood sugar in the normal limits and avoid wild
ups and down. Be sure to eat enough calories to support you and the growth of
your baby. You need to eat about 300 extra calories a day to support the extra
growth. Be sure to choose high fiber, nutrient dense foods. Eating a variety of
healthy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, with some protein is the best way
to keep blood sugar in check and for the fetus to grow normally. Choose foods
that are filled with fiber. Aim for at least 25 grams of fiber a day. Meals
should be spread out into three main meals and two snacks, while avoiding high
sugar beverages, such as juice, right before bed. This raises the risk of a
blood sugar spike in the middle of the night and possible hypoglycemia in the
morning. For breakfast eat a protein
based meal with little carbohydrate. Insulin tends not lower blood sugar as
well in the morning as at other times of the day. Eating protein will help
insulin lower blood sugar more effectively.
Moderate physical activity is also recommended to help keep
blood sugar in the normal limits. Ask you doctor about how much and how intense
the exercise should be. Over exercising can cause more problems and should be
avoided. Usually a brisk walk is all that is needed to keep mother and baby
healthy. If you work out to much you risk not only injuring yourself but you
risk starting preterm labor. Be sure to
drink plenty of water, at least 64oz or 10 (8oz) glasses a day, whether you exercise
or not. Both you and the baby need to stay hydrated. You may need to drink more
water if you sweat a lot during physical activity.
Eating when you have diabetes can be confusing. A Registered
Dietitian can help make sense of it all. To contact one in your area, visit www.eatright.org.
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