Gestational Diabetes: What you need to know

Gestational diabetes is a condition which causes high blood sugar that can affect the mother’s pregnancy and her baby’s health.

If a woman has gestational diabetes, her baby may be at increased risk of:

  • excessive birth weight
  • preterm birth
  • experiencing serious breathing difficulties
  • low blood sugar
  • obesity
  • type 2 diabetes later in life
  • stillbirth

Gestational diabetes usually develops in the middle of pregnancy. It usually does not have signs or symptoms, although some women may experience increased thirst and more frequent urination. The blood sugar levels of women with gestational diabetes usually normalize after delivery. Women who have gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. As such, they need to monitor their blood sugar levels more frequently.

Risk factors
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • History of gestational diabetes or prediabetes
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Family history of diabetes
  • Previously having a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds
Go for regular prenatal care

Women should consult their doctor as early as when they first plan to get pregnant. This will allow the doctor to assess a woman’s risk of gestational diabetes and check her overall health. Women should continue to go for regular prenatal care once they become pregnant. Women who develop gestational diabetes may need more frequent checkups.

Helpful tips for women with gestational diabetes
  • Eat foods high in fiber and low in fat and calories, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
  • Talk to your doctor about the right exercise regimen for you. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week such as brisk walking, swimming, or playing with children.
  • Monitor your blood sugar regularly and inform your doctor about the results.
  • Administer insulin as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Ask your doctor about the right time to get tested for diabetes after your baby is born.

Consult your doctor about the optimal management of gestational diabetes.

Shop at Watsons for prescription medications and other essential healthcare needs.

 

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339#:~:text=Gestational%20diabetes%20is%20diabetes%20diagnosed,pregnancy%20and%20your%20baby's%20health. Accessed 28 March 2021
https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/diabetes-gestational.html. Accessed 28 March 2021

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