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How can we protect ourselves from gestational diabetes?

Gestational Diabetes (Diabetes During Pregnancy)

By Shan BrothersPublished about a year ago 7 min read
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Gestational Diabetes (Diabetes During Pregnancy)

Your healthcare team will help you make a healthy eating plan with food choices that are good for both you and your baby. These choices are good for you to follow throughout pregnancy and after, as you raise your family.

Using a healthy eating plan will help your blood glucose stay in your target range. The plan will help you know which foods to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. Food choices, amounts, and timing are all important in keeping your blood glucose levels in your target range.

More information is provided in the NIDDK health topic, What I need to know about Eating and Diabetes.

Physical Activity

Physical activity can help you reach your blood glucose targets. Talk with your doctor about the type of activity that is best for you. If you are already active, tell your doctor what you do. Being physically active will also help lower your chances of having type 2 diabetes—and its problems—in the future. Now is the time to develop good habits for you and your baby.

  • Be as physically active as you can. Aim for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
  • Do aerobic activities, which use your large muscles to make your heart beat faster. Try brisk walking, swimming, dancing, or low-impact aerobics.
  • Ask your doctor if you may continue some higher intensity sports to strengthen muscles and bone if you were already doing them before becoming pregnant, such as lifting weights or jogging.
  • Avoid activities in which you can get hit in the stomach, such as basketball or soccer.
  • Avoid activities that may cause you to fall, such as horseback riding or downhill skiing.
  • Do not exercise on your back after the first trimester. This kind of physical activity can put too much pressure on an important vein and limit blood flow to your baby.

Insulin Shots

If you have trouble meeting your blood glucose targets, you may need to take a medicine called insulin, along with following a healthy meal plan and being physically active. Your healthcare team will show you how to give yourself insulin shots. Insulin will not harm your baby.

How Will I Know Whether My Blood Glucose Levels Are on Target?

Your healthcare team may ask you to use a small device called a blood glucose meter to check your blood glucose levels on your own. You will learn:

  • how to use the meter,
  • how to prick your finger to obtain a drop of blood,
  • what your blood glucose target range is, and ,
  • when to check your blood glucose. You may be asked to check your blood glucose:

  • when you wake up,
  • just before meals,
  • 1 or 2 hours after breakfast,
  • 1 or 2 hours after lunch, and
  • 1 or 2 hours after dinner.

Each time you check your blood glucose, write down the results in a record book. Ask your health care team for a blood glucose record book or use an electronic blood glucose tracking system on the Internet or on your cell phone. Always bring your blood glucose meter and your record book to your checkups so you can talk with your healthcare team about reaching your target blood glucose levels.

Will I Need to Do Other Tests on My Own?

Your healthcare team may teach you how to test for chemicals called ketones in your morning urine or in your blood. High levels of ketones are a sign that your body is using your body fat for energy instead of the food you eat. Using fat for energy is not recommended during pregnancy. Ketones may be harmful for your baby.

If your ketone levels are high, your doctor may suggest that you change the type or amount of food you eat. Or you may need to change your meal or snack times.

Gestational Diabetes Diet: Foods To Control Diabetes In Pregnant Women

Pregnancy a life-changing phase for a woman can cause a series of hormonal changes in her body which may also put the expecting mother at risk of several diseases. Gestational diabetes is one such condition where insulin sensitivity is developed and if the blood sugar levels are not controlled, one may be at risk of complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Gestational diabetes many a time do not have clear symptoms and it is often detected during blood test. Increased thirst and urination may be some of the symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, the right diet can help control it. (Also read: Gestational diabetes: Myths and truths you need to know about)

"Becoming a mother is a wonderful phase in a woman’s life. With the change in body there will also be a chemical change from the start to pregnancy up till delivery. One such change is rise in blood sugar levels which is known as gestational diabetes that can develop due to insulin sensitivity caused due to hormonal changes. It is essential to maintain the food habits to keep the blood sugar in check," says Susmita S, Executive Nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Bengaluru, Bellandur.

Here are some foods that can help manage gestational diabetes:

WHOLE GRAINS

Complex carbs are most important to manage blood sugar levels. Refined cereals like maida and white rice have to be replaced with unpolished cereals like whole wheat, broken wheat, oats, millets, quinoa, sorghum, semi-polished rice, bajra which prevent sudden spikes in blood sugar post - meal.

PULSES & LEGUMES

Whole lentils and legumes must be a part of the daily meals. Due to low amounts of carbohydrates, blood sugar will not be spiked, however, it’s better to consume them in the cooked form to avoid bloating.

VEGETABLES

Include varieties of non-starchy veggies as a part of the meal in the form of gravies, salads, or veggies. The fiber in vegetables will provide a slow release of starch from grains. Avoid all kinds of roots and tubers like potato, carrot, yam, tapioca, and sweet pumpkin on a general basis.

FRUITS

It’s a general notion to avoid fruit when blood sugar spikes. It’s recommended to intake 200g of fruits a day but any kind of juice should be avoided. Recommended fruits are apple, orange, mausambi, guava, muskmelon, and strawberry, plum, and pomegranate, avocado.

MILK PRODUCTS

Unsweetened dairy products like curd/yogurt, milk, and paneer provide good sources of calcium, Vitamin D as well as protein. Good bacteria in yogurt promote good gut health and digestion.

MEAT AND POULTRY

Have good quality protein as a part of your food. Whole eggs, skinned-out chicken, non-mercury fish, other seafood, and lean meat are all to be incorporated on a regular basis as they are good sources of Vitamin B, zinc, and iron. Avoid any kind of processed meat and fried preparations.

GOOD FATS

Include ghee, butter and cheese in moderate amount. Roasted nuts (almonds, walnuts, pista, peanuts), seed (pumpkin, sunflower, watermelon, cucumber, sesame) can be an alternative as a healthy snack.

Fried foods, margarine, Vanaspati, dalda must be avoided.

TIPS TO CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

• Have small frequent meals instead of heavy meals.

• Include sources of protein and non-starchy veggies in all meals.

• Choose grilled, baked roasted or steamed food rather than fried food items. Choose 1 portion of fresh fruit/salad for desserts or plain yogurt instead of sugar-laden sweets.

• Choose water instead of regular soda, fruit mocktails, sweet tea, and other sugar-sweetened drinks. Have 3-4 liters of water a day.

• Avoid creamy toppings, like mayonnaise. The High-fat topping on salads, dressings, and cheeses.

• It’s all about portion size. No fasting No feasting. Pair your carbs with protein and veggies to maintain your blood sugar level.

• Switch to healthy snacks instead of unhealthy junk food.

• Maintain your meal timings

• Include fatty nonmercury fishes anchovy, sardines, salmon, and herrings to get the benefit of Omega acids.

• Walking 30-45 minutes a day and permitted exercise will help further control blood sugar. Do get in touch with the physiotherapist for further details.

It's important to have a balanced diet and do physical activity to keep blood sugar under control. Talk to your nutritionist for a personalized diet plan. Medication and insulin may be required in some cases but diet and exercise have to be the first priority to have a healthy diet.

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