If you’ve recently been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you’re not alone. The condition affects 10% of all pregnancies in the U.S. each year according to the American Diabetes Association.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs when a woman’s body is unable to handle the larger amount of insulin produced during pregnancy. The good news is that you can successfully control this condition without any major side effects to mother or baby with some basic pregnancy care.
Here are five tips for women dealing with gestational diabetes:
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- Keep Blood Sugar Levels Steady: Work with your doctor to develop a meal plan that helps maintain steady blood sugar levels. Make sure that you follow this plan and monitor your blood sugar levels as recommended by your OB-GYN.
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- Exercise: Regular physical activity can help maintain steady blood sugar levels. A simple walk for about 20 minutes most days of the week should do the trick. Talk to your OB-GYN about starting an exercise regimen if you’ve been physically inactive.
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- Prepare for the Possibility of a C-Section: The most common complication of gestational diabetes is that babies tend to grow rapidly during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Their size can be a concern when it comes to natural delivery, so OB-GYNs often recommend C-sections if it looks like the baby is getting large. You should prepare yourself for the possibility of a C-section in case your doctor thinks it’s the safest route of delivery. Learn more about C-sections.
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- Consider Breastfeeding: One concern of babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes is that their blood sugar levels may be low after the umbilical cord is cut. Breastfeeding early can help steady these blood sugar levels for the baby. Furthermore, mothers with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for developing diabetes later on in life, but studies show that breastfeeding reduces this risk in both mothers and their children.
- Practice Diabetes Prevention: After delivery, your blood sugar levels should return to normal within six weeks. Even still, having had gestational diabetes means that you are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life and during subsequent pregnancies. You can reduce your risks of both types of diabetes by taking preventative actions, including maintaining a healthy weight. Learn more about preventing gestational diabetes with your next pregnancy.
While it may be a shock to learn that you have gestational diabetes, it is a condition that you can control with a few lifestyle changes. The doctors and midwives at Gainesville’s All About Women aim to provide expecting mothers with safe pregnancies and deliveries, no matter what comes their way.
Continue reading on our Knowledge Center to learn more about gestational diabetes.
