Gestational Diabetes - Controlling Blood Sugar Levels During Pregnancy!

Controlling blood sugar levels during pregnancy is critically important for the health of both mother and child. Certain nutritional supplements, which may be needed only during pregnancy, are helpful for both mother and child when there is gestational diabetes.

1. Beta-caroteneor mixed carotenoids, up to 25,000 IU a day, help prevent vitamin A deficiency without exposing the embryo to risks of vitamin A-induced genetic damage. The body converts only as much of the carotene compounds as it needs for vitamin A. Overweight women especially need beta-carotene or mixed carotenoids, since fat cells can sequester these nutrients from the rest of the body

2. Chromium nicotinate, up to 400 mcg a day, helps improve insulin sensitivity and helps normalize blood sugar levels. Chromium picolinate does not have this effect.

3. Omega-3 nicotinate, may prevent premature delivery. In women who do not have gestational diabetes, they also help prevent low birth weight (not an issue in mother who have diabetes). It's probably best to avoid fish oil capsules during the first trimester, both because of their potential heavy metal content and more importantly because of their tendency to cause fishy burps. Ground flaxseed added to cereals and fruit will deliver both essential fatty acids and fiber to prevent constipation. Hempseed and macadamia nut oils and cold-water fish are also great sources of these beneficial fats.

4. Vanadium, in doses of 50 to 100 mcg a day, may help improve insulin sensitivity.

5. Vitamin C, (up to 1,000 mg a day, but no more), vitamin E (up to 400 IU a day, but no more), and lipoic acid (either 250 mg of R-lipoic acid or 500 mg of alpha-lipoic acid daily, but no more) work synergistically to help cells use glucose more effectively. Taking one vitamin without the other or taking too much of any of these antioxidants, or taking one or two without the others, however, can cause a paradoxical, pro-oxidant effect.

6. Vitamin D, prevents bacterial vaginosis during the first trimester. Up to 2,000 IU a day prevents deficiency. To avoid disturbing calcium metabolism, don't take more than 2,000 IU a day during pregnancy... or get at least 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure on the arms, hands, and face every day.

Diabetes During Pregnancy

In previous articles we have talked about the main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. There is one other major type of diabetes which can affect some would-be mothers called gestational diabetes. In this article we will talk a bit more about diabetes in pregnancy. Even if you are not planning on having children or already have had children you may still find the article helpful for your family and friends.

Who gets gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes does not occur in most pregnancies and there is only a 1-2% chance that diabetes will occur. The risk is greater if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. When diabetes does occur during pregnancy, it is usually during the 3rd trimester but can occur at any time. Usually once the baby is born, the diabetes disappears. If you have had diabetes during pregnancy once, you are more likely to develop diabetes in future pregnancies and are at higher risk of developing diabetes
later in life.

How do you test for gestational diabetes?

Usually diabetes in pregnancy is diagnosed as a part of the screening tests carried out during pregnancy. Often the main test used is the glucose tolerance test. This involves fasting the night before the test and then taking a glucose supplement by mouth. After an hour the blood glucose levels are measured. If blood glucose levels are more than 7 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) then there is a possibility of gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes and the baby

One of the main effects of diabetes during pregnancy, if untreated, is that the baby can grow large and result in a difficult birth. This could increase the likelihood of a cesarean birth. If you have diabetes during pregnancy, your new born baby's blood sugar levels will be checked regularly.

The main thing to remember is a lot of problems can occur for you and the baby if you do not control your blood glucose levels but if you do, the problems are much less likely.

Treatment of gestational diabetes

An important part of any treatment is to control blood glucose (sugar) levels which involves regular testing as well as other steps to lower blood glucose levels. A change in diet alone is sufficient to control blood glucose in most women with diabetes during pregnancy but some times medicines are needed as well. On average, around a third of women with diabetes during pregnancy need medicines which usually involves treatment with insulin injections.

Follow up

6 weeks after the baby has been born it is a good idea to have another blood glucose test to check that the diabetes has gone and blood glucose levels have returned to normal levels.

Hopefully, after reading this article you will feel you know a little more about the basics of gestational diabetes. To learn more speak to your doctor or midwife.

If you plan on checking your blood glucose levels yourself during your pregnancy then we would recommend any of the One Touch Ultra meters. The latest and easiest One Touch Ultra meter is the One Touch Ultra Mini.

We also have a great article on the Signs of High Blood Sugar which is a very useful read and a great way to learn a bit more about the important signs to be aware of.

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