Manage Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy

Tips for Maintaining Health While Pregnant and Diabetic

Aug 23, 2009

Once diagnosed with gestational diabetes, there are important steps a pregnant woman should take to manage the condition following medical advice and proper nutrition.

Approximately 4% of women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy among women who were not previously diabetic. With gestational diabetes, the pregnant woman's blood sugar levels are abnormally high, which can pose risks for the developing baby.

Women who are diagnosed with this condition will need the support and advice of a health professional to make sure that gestational diabetes does not negatively impact the health of the baby, and to reduce the likelihood of developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life (or gestational diabetes in future pregnancies).

Diagnosed With Gestational Diabetes

Although some of the risk factors for gestational diabetes are avoidable, women who have been diagnosed with the condition cannot be "cured" while pregnant; for most women, however, the high blood sugar levels disappear after delivery.

Most doctors recommend frequent monitoring of blood sugar for women with gestational diabetes. This involves a brief finger prick four or five times each day (in the morning and after eating meals) to measure glucose levels in the blood with a small digital device. See a health professional for instructions; in some cases, doctors may prescribe medication to treat the condition.

During labor, the doctor or nurses will also monitor blood sugar levels to make sure that the newborn's blood sugar levels will be stable and healthy.

Proper Diet for Dealing With Gestational Diabetes

One of the simplest ways to manage difficulties with blood sugar levels is to improve dietary habits, avoiding high-calorie, fatty, or sugary foods and replacing them with vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Foods with little nutritional value or foods high in simple carbohydrates can negatively affect blood sugar levels, and should be avoided.

Although many women diagnosed with gestational diabetes could benefit from the assistance of a dietitian or health professional when altering diet, many will also find that regular diabetic cookbooks make the adaptation to a new diet relatively easy.

Exercise to Cope With Gestational Diabetes

Not only can appropriate exercise help pregnant women manage their blood sugar levels in a naturally healthy way, regular physical activity can also mitigate some of the emotional stress and worry that often accompanies a pregnancy when the woman is faced with health concerns.

Exercise helps the blood transport sugar to the body's cells and assists the body with using its insulin supply more efficiently. In short, exercise is a free and healthy way to lower blood sugar levels.

Even women who previously did not exercise can benefit from moderate physical activity. Walking, swimming, biking, and other activities that involve low-impact, fluid movements are often recommended during pregnancy. Women should check with their health care providers before beginning an exercise regimen during pregnancy, however.

Adjusting to Life After a Diabetic Pregnancy

As mentioned previously, many women will find their blood sugar levels return to normal after giving birth. To reduce the chances that she will suffer from diabetes or gestational diabetes in the future, women who have experienced gestational diabetes should continue the healthy eating and exercise habits described above.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can not only assist with obtaining a healthy weight after pregnancy, but can also help reduce other ailments, such as swelling, back pain, and fatigue.

Women who have experienced gestational diabetes in former pregnancies may also benefit from occasional blood sugar monitoring between pregnancies and regular blood sugar monitoring during future pregnancies to detect the problem early, should it reoccur.

Resources for Women With Gestational Diabetes

The copyright of the article Manage Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy in Prenatal Health is owned by Katherine Brind'Amour. Permission to republish Manage Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.