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How To Manage Pregnancy Even If You Have Diabetes?

Diabetes in Pregnancy

A healthy pregnancy is a priority for every mother-to-be, but for women who have diabetes, including those who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, their health care can become more complex. You have a challenging road ahead of you, but the good news is that there’s a lot you can do to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Diabetes in Pregnancy – Complications

Women with diabetes who are diagnosed prior to pregnancy have a higher risk of complications, including miscarriage and birth defects. The good news is that with a plan, healthy strategies, and support, you can control your diabetes, have a healthy pregnancy, and deliver a healthy baby.

Here is how you can enjoy pregnancy even if you have diabetes:

If you have diabetes and plan to conceive, you should talk to your doctor to make sure your A1C levels are normal, talk about medication if it’s necessary or ask to be referred to a nutritionist.

Get your HB A1C levels tested regularly. Book Test here.

One of the best ways to ensure you will have a healthy pregnancy is to make sure you start out at a normal weight. Eat a primarily plant-based diet, avoid excessive added sugars, preservatives, processed foods, and those high in saturated fats.

Read More About 5 Diet Tips for Diabetes Management

Women who have diabetes can have a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby, but it’s important to monitor diabetes complications that could worsen throughout pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Exercise will help you metabolize food better, control blood glucose and help to control your weight during and after pregnancy. The CDC recommends pregnant women get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week.

Read More About 7 Health Benefits of Regular Exercise

When planning your meals, know how many carbohydrates are in each food and limit the amount you eat because it will raise your blood sugar.

Vegetables are filled with phytonutrients and fill-you-up fibre, plus they aid digestion and prevent excess weight gain. They also are low calorie and low in carbohydrates, so they won’t affect your blood sugar. Non-starchy vegetables like lettuce, carrots, cucumber, and broccoli are all good choices.

Make sure you eat every two to three hours during the day to keep nausea at bay. If you take insulin or pills, eat a few saltine crackers before getting out of bed in the morning and then take your medication to make sure you can keep food down. A small source of fast-acting carbohydrates such as glucose tablets, honey, or juice can help if your blood glucose levels are low. Then have breakfast that includes a healthy protein source like eggs or plain Greek yoghurt.

Try a fresh green vegetable juice, which is a good source of folate and calcium. This can control your appetite and prevent sugar cravings. Avoid juices with a lot of fruit because it can spike your blood sugar.

Also Read: Can You Get Pregnant Without Having Sex? Debunking Pregnancy Myths

It’s important to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during pregnancy. Be sure to avoid juice, soda, sports drinks and sweeteners in coffee and tea.

It’s OK to enjoy a slice of pie or holiday cookies but take stock of the total amount of carbohydrates you’ll be eating with dessert and if you will need to compensate with medication. If you want dessert, consider having a salad instead of a sandwich as your meal, for example.

Look for apps that help you log blood sugar, food or count carbs and sensors and continuous blood glucose monitors.

Studies show 35 to 60 per cent of women with gestational diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years. If you have gestational diabetes, it’s important to talk to your doctor about monitoring your blood glucose and making lifestyle changes after your pregnancy.

You might have misconceptions about diabetes in pregnancy, blame yourself or need advice. Seek out the help of a certified diabetes educator, a registered dietitian nutritionist who can help you create a realistic and delicious meal plan or a community of pregnant moms who have diabetes. It’s important to realize that you will need a plan, make healthy lifestyle choices for you and your baby and seek out information. But stick with it, and you can have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Also Read About: 10 Home Remedies For Diabetes

Conclusion

When suffering from diabetes in pregnancy, remember it’s important to work hard at achieving excellent control, remember that occasional blood sugar that is higher than you like is not going to do long-term damage to your child. And if you feel yourself getting frustrated and burnt out, try to keep in mind some of the long-term benefits of all the hard work you’re putting into your pregnancy.

Need more information on diabetes and its related diseases? Ask Anya! Chat with Anya Bot here via Facebook and get more information on diabetes management.

Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients, and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.

What Should You Know About Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy?

Gestational Diabetes in pregnancy is when pregnant women, who have never shown symptoms of diabetes, develop high blood sugar due to their pregnancy, it is known as gestational diabetes. In most cases, women develop this condition for the first time in their pregnancy, but in rare cases, it might be that an undiagnosed case of diabetes has worsened.The human body uses insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas, to metabolize food into glucose which is the smallest unit of energy that the cells can use for biological processes. Pregnancy is a time of massive hormonal changes. The way a woman’s body uses insulin changes while she is carrying a baby. The body becomes slightly resistant to insulin so that the fetus receives more glucose for optimal growth. In some cases, the process goes a bit haywire, and the body becomes utterly resistant to insulin or stops producing it in enough quantities. This leads to high blood sugar levels, and the condition is known as Gestational Diabetes.The high glucose levels in the blood can cause many complications for the mother and the baby. In most cases, the routine tests catch the problem in its infancy. However, it is essential to always be on the watch. Read on to find out more about the risk factors, symptoms and what you can do if you have gestational diabetes in pregnancy.

Causes

The reason for some women developing gestational diabetes is because of their placenta. HPL (human placental lactogen) is a hormone produced by the placenta. It helps in the baby’s growth, but it also alters the way the mother metabolizes carbohydrates and fats. It increases the woman’s resistance to insulin, and this raises the blood glucose level, so the baby gets the extra glucose for growth. After 15 weeks of pregnancy, another hormone, Human Placental Growth Hormone, is released. This is also a growth hormone and raises the mother’s blood glucose levels further. In most cases, the body adapts and keeps the sugar levels from getting too high. When the mother’s body cannot control the raised glucose levels, she is said to have gestational diabetes.

Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy

There are many risk factors associated with gestational diabetes in pregnancy.
  1. Age
Women above the age of 25 years are more likely to get gestational diabetes in pregnancy.
  1. Weight
Those who are overweight or obese (a BMI of more than 30) are at high risk.
  1. Family History
Those with a family history of type 2 diabetes are more prone to gestational diabetes.
  1. PCOS
Women who have had a history of PCOS are more likely to get gestational diabetes.
  1. Ethnicity
African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and aboriginal women are more vulnerable to this issue.
  1. Previous Pregnancies with Gestational Diabetes
Women who have had prior pregnancies with gestational diabetes and have had large babies are more prone to suffering from this condition.

Diagnosis and Treatment

All womenAl women go through a routine screening test for gestational diabetes between the 24th to 28th weeks of pregnancy. A Glucose Tolerance Test is administered. In this, the woman’s blood sample is taken in the morning when she has an empty stomach. Then she is told to drink a glucose solution. After two hours, another blood sample is taken to find out how the body has processed glucose.Most women can control their condition by sticking to the exercise and diet regime that their doctors have chalked out for them. Those who cannot are given anti-hyperglycemic medicines. Some might even need insulin injections which are given thrice a day. You will have to maintain tight control over your blood sugar as it leads to severe complications if it gets too high.

Complications Due to Gestational Diabetes

If the mother has gestational diabetes, the baby is at risk of the following scenarios:
  1. Excessive Birth Weight
High amounts of glucose lead the baby’s body to produce extra insulin. This can make them grow very large. The downside of this is that the baby may get stuck in the birth canal because of being overweight and may require a cesarean operation.
  1. Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Sometimes, mothers of babies who have gestational diabetes go into early or preterm labour. This increases the chances of the baby suffering from respiratory distress syndrome as its lungs would not have developed properly.
  1. Hypoglycemia
Since the babies produce more insulin to deal with the increased glucose in the mother’s blood, when they are born, they have a surplus of insulin. This produces low blood sugar levels right after their birth. If left untreated, it can lead to seizures and other complications. Usually, in such scenarios, a glucose solution is given to the babies to return their sugar levels to normal.
  1. Type 2 Diabetes in the Future
The babies of mothers who have had gestational diabetes are prone to type 2 diabetes in the future.

Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy: Complications for the Mother

  1. Preeclampsia
Gestational diabetes increases the risk of having high blood pressure which leads to a condition known as Preeclampsia. It can be fatal if left untreated.
  1. Diabetes in the Future
If you have gestational diabetes, it increases your chances of suffering from type 2 diabetes in the future.Also Read: Does Urinating After Sexual Intercourse Prevent Pregnancy: Dispelling Sexual Health Myths 

Prevention of Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy

If you are at risk of developing gestational diabetes, no one can be sure that you can prevent it by following these tips. However, if you can adopt these habits before and during your pregnancy, you keep the odds in your favour.
  1. Eat Healthily
Choose fresh fruits, whole grains and nuts to incorporate nutrients and fibre into   your diet. Control your portions and keep away from junk food. Read more diet tips for diabetes management.
  1. Exercise
Being active will ensure that you keep the weight gain to a minimum and prevent gestational diabetes. Choose the activity that you enjoy and get started. Not just your weight, it will help lift your mood.
  1. Lose Weight Before Your Pregnancy
No doctor will encourage weight loss during pregnancy. So, lose the pounds before you conceive to have a healthy pregnancy.    Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Gestational Diabetes: Foods You Must Avoid

When one is pregnant, the way the body uses insulin changes. Insulin is needed to break down blood glucose into energy. Gestational diabetes happens only during pregnancy. It is possible to develop gestational diabetes in the first pregnancy or to find out about it because one already has diabetes that hasn’t been detected before.

The body becomes slightly resistant to insulin to provide the foetus with more glucose. In some cases, the body becomes unresponsive to it or produces it in negligible quantities. When this happens, it is known as Gestational Diabetes.

Since one is pregnant but also suffering from this issue, a healthy diet takes on a whole new meaning. Take a look at the foods you must avoid during gestational diabetes.

1. Junk food

Women who are pregnant must take care to avoid junk food in all its forms. So turn away from the burgers, pizzas and different kinds of pasta. They offer no nutritional value and add to the calories. Since most of them are heavy on chemicals and artificial elements, they are harmful to the baby’s health. Stock up on healthy food options like yoghurt, tofu, eggs, fish, leafy greens, whole grains and nuts to balance your diet.

2. Alcohol

Alcohol is a strict no-no for all would-be mothers. Those who have gestational diabetes must avoid even that tempting glass of wine. Alcohol is a known culprit for causing congenital disabilities in unborn babies so avoid it at all costs.

3. Calorie High Carbs

Refined food is very calorie-dense. It provides the calories without offering any fibre or nutrition in turn leading to distressing weight gain. White bread is a major culprit as are most baked goods unless those that are made with whole wheat. Weight has to stay in check to keep gestational diabetes manageable.

4. Colas

The sugary drinks will pile up the kilos without any of them being used for the unborn child. Packaged juices, energy drinks and sweetened beverages should also be avoided at all costs. Instead, go for a bowl of fruits or a salad.

5. Foods Labelled ‘Diabetic-Friendly’

Anything that sells itself as diabetic-friendly or good for diabetics must be avoided. They have a comparable amount of calories and fat and have a negative impact on blood glucose. Stick to regular food. If one is having severe cravings, eat food that you would generally treat yourself with.

So what can you eat?

The list of things to avoid would seem daunting, but there are many food options that you can incorporate into your diet to help yourself and the baby. Here are some ideas.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.