Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy. If you have diabetes, your body isn't able to use the sugar (glucose) in your blood
The good news is that gestational diabetes can be controlled and usually goes away after pregnancy. Starting treatment early lowers the risk to you and your baby. Treatment includes diet, exercise, and sometimes medication:
Diet . A dietitian or diabetes educator can help you get on the right meal plan. Your diet should include lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains. Calorie intake from fats should be less than 30 percent. You may need to eat smaller meals and supplement your diet with healthy snacks http://adf.ly/2mRI . Exercise helps keep your pregnancy weight gain from getting out of control, and helps regulate blood sugar. Physical activities such as walking or swimming are good examples..
Ask you doctor what type of exercise is safe for you. Try to work your way up to about 30 minutes of activity a day. Let your doctor know right away if you experience any back pain, contractions, or dizziness.
Keeping track of blood sugar. Your doctor will do regular blood tests to see if your exercise and diet plans are keeping your blood sugar under control. You may need to use a device called a glucose monitor at home to check your blood sugar several times a day. In some cases you may need to take insulin medication. Insulin does not cross into your baby’s body and is not harmful to him. But check with your doctor
It may take a few weeks after giving birth before your gestational diabetes goes away. It is important to remember that the risk for type 2 diabetes will continue. You can decrease your risk by continuing the healthy diet and exercise plan you followed during your pregnancy. Ask your doctors what a reasonable weight target is for you. If you are overweight, losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can reduce your chance of developing type 2diabetes in the future.
Gestational diabetes is a serious concern, but along with your doctors, dietitian, and diabetes educator, you can keep your blood sugar under control and have a healthy pregnancy
