What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is discovered for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Three to eight women out of every 100 pregnant women in the US get gestational diabetes. Diabetes means that your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. Glucose is used for energy by the body. Too much glucose in your blood can be harmful and too much glucose in the body when pregnant is not good for your baby. The following information is geared toward women who develop gestational diabetes. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and are considering pregnancy, call the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse for more information and consult your health care team before you get pregnant. What are the causes of gestational diabetes? Hormonal changes and weight gain are part of a healthy pregnancy, however, both changes together make it hard for your body to keep up with its need for a hormone called insulin. When that occurs, your body doesn't get the energy it needs from the food you eat. What is my risk of gestational diabetes? Below is a checklist to learn your risk for gestational diabetes. Check each item that applies to you. Talk with your physician about your risk at your first prenatal visit. I am overweight. I am 25 years old or older. I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes. I am African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander. I have had gestational diabetes before, or I have given birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds. I have been told that I have "pre-diabetes," a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Other terms for it are "impaired glucose tolerance" and "impaired fasting glucose." If you have any of these risk factors, ask your physician about testing for gestational diabetes. You are at high risk if you have had gestational diabetes before, are very overweight, have glucose in your urine, or have a strong family history of diabetes. You are at average risk if one or more of the above risk factors applies to you. You are at low risk if none of the risk factors applies to you. When will I be checked for gestational diabetes? Your physician will decide when you need to be checked for diabetes based on your risk factors. Your blood glucose level may be checked at your first prenatal visit if you are at high risk. If your test results are normal, you will be checked again sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy. You will be tested sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy if you have an average risk for gestational diabetes. Your doctor may decide that you do not need to be checked if you are in the low risk group. How is gestational diabetes diagnosed? Your blood glucose level will be checked by your doctor. Depending on your risk and your test results, you may have one or more of the following tests: Fasting blood glucose or random blood glucose test Your doctor will ask you to fast, which means having nothing to eat or drink except water for at least 8 hours, before conducting the fasting blood glucose test. It is possible for your doctor to check your blood glucose at any time during the day. This is called a random blood glucose test. These tests can find gestational diabetes in some women, but other tests are needed to be sure diabetes is not missed.

Your physician will check your blood glucose level to see if you have gestational diabetes. Screening glucose challenge test You will drink a sugary beverage and have your blood glucose level checked an hour later for this test. It can be done at any time of the day. If the results are above normal, you may need further tests. Oral glucose tolerance test Your doctor will give you special instructions to follow if you are to have this test. For at least 3 days before the test, you should eat normally. You will then fast for at least 8 hours before the test. Your physician will check your blood glucose level before the test and then you will drink a sugary beverage. The staff will check your blood glucose levels 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours later. If your levels are above normal at least twice during the test, you have gestational diabetes. Fasting 95 or higher At 1 hour 180 or higher At 2 hours 155 or higher At 3 hours 140 or higher Note: Some labs use other numbers for this test. *These numbers are for a test using a drink with 100 grams of glucose. How can gestational diabetes affect MY growing baby?

Untreated or perhaps uncontrolled gestational diabetes may mean Disorders for your baby. They include being born very large as well as within further fat that can cause delivery challenging AND added dangerous to the baby; possessing low blood glucose right after birth; and breathing problems. if you make use of gestational diabetes, ones doctor will probably recommend a few additional tests to confirm the baby. They may want in order to function the ultrasound exam (to check out how your own baby is growing), a great "kick counts" (to settlement your baby's activity ie: your time between the baby's movements) or maybe special "stress" tests. signing closely Utilizing your physician can enable you to supply delivery to help the healthy baby. regardless of whether you utilize gestational diabetes, both an individual ALONG WITH ones baby are usually with increased risk pertaining to type only two diabetes due to the rest of the lives. How will certainly the actual affect me? Women with gestational diabetes often have no symptoms. Gestational diabetes may, however, increase ones risk of high blood pressure through pregnancy and/or increase your current risk of any large baby along with the need regarding cesarean team from delivery. On a great positive note, your gestational diabetes will go away after ones baby can be born. an individual will, however, always be further likely to obtain type a couple of diabetes later Using your life. You can also acquire gestational diabetes again regardless of whether an individual consider pregnant again. Sometimes, women wonder whether breastfeeding is OK right after It\'s got had gestational diabetes. Breastfeeding is actually a good idea with regard to all babies, just like the individual whose mothers had gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is serious, even whether or not you have not any symptoms. Transporting good care associated with yourself helps keep your baby healthy. How is actually gestational diabetes treated? Steps must supply to keep your own blood glucose levels within a target range. You can learn tips on how to control the blood glucose using a food plan, physical activity and/or insulin (if needed). Using the foodstuff plan may assist keep ones blood glucose making use of your target range. Meal Plan A dietitian or perhaps an diabetes educator will design a meal plan in order to assist you to Decide on foodstuff which can be healthy regarding people and your current baby. Using a meal plan will help keep your own blood glucose Making use of your target range. You could be granted guidelines on that will meal to be able to eat, how much for you to eat, and also whenever to eat. Choices, amounts, along with timing are usually most ticks throughout keeping your blood glucose levels Utilizing your target range. You may be inquired to be able to limit sweets; include fiber Utilizing your meals with the application of fruits, vegetables, in addition to whole-grain crackers, cereals, along with bread; eat three small meal in addition to sole to be able to three snacks every day; and also always be careful information on whenever and how much carbohydrate-rich meal anyone eat. your own foodstuff plan will probably tell a person whenever to help eat carbohydrates in addition to how much for you to eat with each foodstuff as well as snack.

Physical activity helps you reach the blood glucose targets. Physical Activity Physical activity, just like walking along with swimming, assists you to reach the blood glucose targets. TALK WITH your own doctor information about The sort of activity This really is Least difficult pertaining to you. no matter whether you are already active, tell your own physician what an individual do. Insulin Some women need insulin, as well as an meal plan in addition to physical activity, to reach it's blood glucose targets. Your own doctor will show an individual how you can offer yourself insulin regardless of whether insulin is part of the treatment plan. Insulin is actually not harmful with the baby along with It cannot move from the bloodstream in order to ones baby's bloodstream. How will certainly when I recognize regardless of whether my own blood glucose levels usually are in target? You will be asked to employ the small device called a good blood glucose meter to evaluate your glucose levels from your own. You might learn the way to use the meter, Tips on how to prick ones finger to have a great drop regarding blood; what the target variety is; in addition to While to test the blood glucose. You can be requested to check on your own blood glucose While a person wake up, before meals, 1 or maybe a couple of hours immediately after breakfast, 1 or perhaps 3 hours following lunch in addition to 1 or 2 hours soon after dinner.

Each night out anyone check ones blood glucose, write lower your current results. The after chart shows blood glucose targets pertaining to just about all women inside gestational diabetes. Use the doctor exactly about no matter if most of these targets tend to be appropriate regarding you. Blood glucose targets for most women with gestational diabetes On awakening not above 95 1 hour after a meal not above 140 2 hours after a meal not above 120

Each time you check your blood glucose, write down the results in a record book and take the book with you when you visit your physician. If your results are often out of range, suggestions may be given to you to help you reach your targets. Will I need to do other tests on my own? You may be taught how to test for ketones in your morning urine or in your blood. High levels of ketones are a sign that your body is using your body fat for energy instead of the food you eat. Using fat for energy is not recommended during pregnancy. Ketones may be harmful for your baby. Your doctor may suggest that you change the type or amount of food you eat if your ketone levels are high. You may need to change your meal times or snack times. How can I find out if my diabetes is gone after I deliver my baby?

A blood glucose test will probably be given 6 to 12 weeks after your baby is born to see whether you still have diabetes. Gestational diabetes goes away after pregnancy in most women. You are, however, at risk of having gestational diabetes during future pregnancies or getting type 2 diabetes later. How can I prevent or delay getting type 2 diabetes later in life?

You can do a lot to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes after you have your baby.

Reach then maintain a reasonable weight. Even if you stay above your ideal weight, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight is enough to make a big difference. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, losing 10 to 14 pounds can greatly reduce your chance of getting diabetes. Be physically active for 30 minutes most days. Exercise, walk, swim, or go dancing. Follow a healthy eating plan, eating more grains, fruits, and vegetables. Cut down on fat and calories. A dietitian can help you design a meal plan. Remind your doctor to check your blood glucose levels regularly. Women who have had gestational diabetes should continue to be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes every one to two years. Diagnosing diabetes or pre-diabetes early can help prevent complications such as heart disease later. Your child's risk for type 2 diabetes may be lower if you breastfeed your baby and if your child maintains a healthy weight.

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