What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational Diabetes indicates a high level of blood sugar or glucose during pregnancy. However, that does not imply that you can not deliver a healthy baby. Proper medication and diet during your pregnancy can really help you to keep control on your sugar levels. This type of diabetes stays only during the gestation period. Once your baby is born, gestational diabetes usually goes off.
Therefore, in other words, Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes which happens to a pregnant woman only. She may not have any diabetic symptom before getting pregnant. Moreover, there is no visible and typical gestational diabetes symptom unless the sugar levels are too high. It can only be diagnosed by the regular check-ups and blood test.
How Gestational Diabetes occurs?
Usually, during the pregnancy, the placenta makes a hormone that builds up glucose in the blood. And pancreas creates sufficient levels of insulin to combat those increased levels of glucose. But when insulin levels are not that sufficient, glucose level keeps on rising and results in the happening of gestational diabetes.
What are the risks associated with gestational diabetes?
If an increased level of blood sugar is not well controlled in a pregnant lady, it can lead to the following risks which are not-so-good for both baby and mother.
An Extra Large Baby
Diabetes, if left overlooked, may lead to high blood sugar in baby as well. The baby may grow extra large because of being overfed. Furthermore, it may cause several difficulties during the delivery both for mother and baby.
Less Chances for Normal Delivery
Whenever a pregnant woman suffers from gestational diabetes, it is mostly expected that her delivery will be under the cesarean section. The chances for a normal delivery gets minimized because the baby may get suffered from nerve damage while giving pressure from the shoulder during delivery.
High Blood Pressure (Preeclampsia)
It is one of the major complications of potential gestational diabetes. Preeclampsia indicates high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine of a pregnant woman. The exact cause behind this preeclampsia is still unknown, however, research states that if gestational diabetes and obesity is in your family history, then there are more chances of the occurrence of preeclampsia.
TIPS FOR THE PREGNANT WOMEN WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Prefer Healthy foods over any junk
Gestational Diabetes meal plan should include healthy foods over any other junk. A pregnant woman with gestational diabetes needs an extra care in terms of her daily meal plan. Here, in this case, a dietician can really help in providing a healthy meal plan. There are several tasty recipes available for a diabetic person to try out even for the entire family too.
Monitor your blood sugar regularly
It is really important to keep a watch on your blood sugar level often. The diabetes symptoms may lead to experience dizziness, fatigue and even the loss of energy. Therefore, it is vital to do the blood sugar check-ups at the proper interval and especially when you're not feeling well.
Stay fit by regular exercise
A regular exercise not only helps you to balance your food intake but is also keep your blood sugar controlled. Talk to your doctor about which exercise is suitable for you according to the state of pregnancy. Do exercise regularly at least five days a week. This exercise can be either a brisk walk or even just a simple play with children. The more you stay active, the less you will be affected by gestational diabetes.
Do not skip taking insulin, if it is prescribed
Sometimes there are the cases in gestational diabetes where insulin is prescribed. Hence, if your doctor has prescribed you to take insulin at certain time interval, then do not skip taking those insulins. They are good for you and will keep your diabetes under control.
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