Gestational Diabetes: Prevention, Management, and Tips

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 2 and 10% of pregnancies in the US result in gestational diabetes each year. Pregnant women can lower their risk during pregnancy, but prevention is not always possible.

A healthy diet and regular exercise can help many women with gestational diabetes control their blood glucose levels. Additionally, some women may require diabetes medication. Gestational diabetes can be harmful to both the woman and the fetus. To learn how to help prevent gestational diabetes, continue reading about various pregnancy tips.

Preventive Strategies for Gestational Diabetes

Although gestational diabetes cannot always be avoided, women can take measures to lower their risk of developing it during each trimester of pregnancy estimated by a gestational calculator. Careful blood sugar monitoring, lifestyle modifications, and occasionally medication are the best ways to control gestational diabetes. Below are some of the preventive strategies for gestational diabetes.

1. Monitor your Blood Sugar

Your doctor may recommend you check your blood sugar levels multiple times throughout the day if you have gestational diabetes. The following goals are suggested by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for pregnant women who are measuring their blood sugar levels:

• Before a meal: 95 mg/dL or less

• One hour after a meal: 140 mg/dL or less

• Two hours after a meal: 120 mg/dL or less

2. Exercise Regularly

Maintaining a healthy weight requires regular exercise. Exercise can help avoid gestational diabetes before and throughout pregnancy. Exercise increases the body's sensitivity to the insulin produced by the pancreas, which aids in blood sugar regulation. The following activities could be beneficial for someone who has a sedentary lifestyle:

• Walking or cycling to work

• Taking the stairs, parking further from the destination, and walking the remaining distance.

• Engaging in active leisure pursuits like hiking, gardening, or outdoor play with kids.

• To keep motivated, consider yoga, preferably a class designed especially for expectant mothers or beginners.

• Low-impact workouts like swimming or joining a running club.

• Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise four to five days a week if you want to avoid gestational diabetes.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet during pregnancy can be difficult due to morning sickness, cravings, and food aversions. A woman can avoid gestational diabetes and make sure she only acquires a healthy amount of weight each trimester by eating a nutritious diet.

Healthy food in pregnancy include:

• Whole grains like brown rice, pasta, oatmeal, and bread.

• Low-fat dairy products like Greek yogurt.

• Lean proteins like beans, fish, tofu, and white fowl.

• Healthy fats from nuts, olive oil, coconut oil, and other plant-based fat sources.

• Non starchy vegetables.

• Fruits

It is best to avoid:

• Processed foods

• Sugary drinks, such as sodas, juices, energy drinks, and coffee drinks purchased from stores

• Extra or added sugar

4. Attend Routine Care Appointments

For normal care during pregnancy, a woman should visit a gynaecologist on a regular basis and calculate their trimester using a pregnancy calculator. The doctor will inquire about the pregnancy and any new symptoms during these appointments. Additionally, they will examine the developing fetus with an ultrasound and perform a pelvic exam. A doctor can identify some of the early indicators of gestational diabetes and offer prevention strategies. Additionally, a pregnant woman is screened for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28.

5. Use Medication

Changes in lifestyle may not always be sufficient for effectively managing gestational diabetes. Insulin is used to treat gestational diabetes if blood sugar levels stay high even after dietary modifications. During pregnancy, this is both safe and beneficial. You will receive instructions from your healthcare practitioner on how to administer insulin shots to yourself using a tiny needle. A few doctors could recommend an alternative drug to be taken orally.

Bottom Line

Sometimes, gestational diabetes is quite common. Pregnant women who have certain risk factors are more likely to acquire gestational diabetes. However, the risk can be decreased by eating healthy foods, exercising frequently throughout pregnancy, and keeping a healthy weight both before and after conception.

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