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.

Pregnancy and Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Pregnancy is one of the happiest moments of women's lives because this is the time when the most precious gift of God which is life is given to both husband and wife. However, to some women this stage is very critical because this is the time when gestational diabetes can possibly occur. It is one of the several types of diabetes that happens during pregnancy. It strangely affects the health of pregnant women. Gestational diabetes usually begins in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy and will usually disappear after delivery.

Diabetes is a kind of disease in which the pancreas is no longer able produce insulin in the proper way which resulted to high sugar level in the blood. Moreover in the normal case, the pancreas will produce the right amount of insulin which can accommodate the quantity of sugar in the blood, but in the case of a diabetic patient, the pancreas will only produce little insulin or none at all. In the case of this type of diabetes, the pancreas of a woman is producing enough amount of insulin but it is partially blocked by some hormones like progesterone, estrogen and cortisol. This scenario is then called resistance to insulin.

Causes of gestational diabetes may include gestational diabetes in the previous pregnancy, age of the patient and her family background about diabetes. The size of the child during the previous birth is also a factor that can trigger this kind of diabetes to occur. Obesity during pregnancy is also one of the obvious causes of this disease.

Generally, the symptoms of this type of diabetes are very much difficult to diagnose during the early months of pregnancy. However, there are cases when the symptoms of such disease can be easily observed. These symptoms usually include increased body weight, repeated vaginal infections, feeling hunger or thirst and excessive urination. If you are a pregnant woman who experienced the symptoms of this disease, it is very important for you need to immediately consult your doctor to avoid future complications. In most cases, symptoms of this kind of diabetes occur in the 20th and 28th week of pregnancy.

Moreover if you have already experienced the symptoms of this kind of disease, it is necessary for you to choose the foods that you are going to eat. You must avoid yourself from eating foods that are rich in sugar and saturated fats. You should also start eating foods that are rich in fibers. You also need to have a regular exercise in order for you to maintain a healthy weight. You must not forget to monitor your blood sugar every now and then.

Pregnant women should not panic about the idea of gestational diabetes during pregnancy because it can happen to anyone. However symptoms of gestational diabetes must be taken seriously because it can put the life of the mother and her child into great danger when not properly managed. Pregnant women should always be careful with their health because whatever happens to them will also affect their babies inside their tummies.

Gestational Diabetes - The Risks And How To Reduce Them

What causes gestational diabetes?

Many women have never heard of gestational diabetes before, and only discover it exists when they are diagnosed with it, which is usually in the second half of their pregnancy at about the 25 week mark.

Gestational diabetes occurs when women undergo hormonal changes during the latter stages of pregnancy and either find that they cannot make enough insulin, or discover that while they continue to make insulin, it no longer works as well as it should. Hormones produced in the placenta that help the baby to develop can interfere with the action of insulin on the mother's body, therefore requiring her to produce extra insulin. Most women are able to make more insulin to keep their blood glucose level within a normal range but some women are unable to do this and their blood glucose level goes up causing gestational diabetes.

While those who have the condition may experience increased thirst and urination and possibly blurred vision, most suffer no symptoms at all. This can be a bit of an issue when trying to convince those affected that they need to do something about it. The diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes is vital to keep both mother and baby healthy throughout the remainder of pregnancy.

So, what are the risk factors?

Lifestyle - Obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise are the prime causes.

Age - An increasing number of women are delaying motherhood and opting for pregnancy in their 30s and 40s.

Ethnic background - Caucasians have a low, one in 12 likelihood of developing the condition, some races are especially prone. For example, Indigenous Australians are two-and-a-half times more likely to develop it than non-indigenous Australians, with Torres Strait Islanders and those of Arabic descent a close second. Arabic women have one in four chance of developing gestational diabetes, followed by women from Sub Continental Asia, South East Asian women, Pacific Islanders and those of African descent.

Family history - Gestational diabetes is more common in women whose mothers or other relations have had it.

If gestational diabetes goes unchecked, the extra glucose in the mother's blood passes to the baby. As its more energy than the baby requires, it is stored as fat, resulting in the baby gaining unnecessary weight. Large babies face risks during delivery and can also be born with low blood glucose and breathing difficulties. The glucose overload also means at 18 - 20 weeks of pregnancy, the baby may begin to make its own insulin, which can help set the stage in later life for obesity as well as type 2 diabetes.

Although a mother's blood glucose usually returns to normal once she's given birth, as many as 10 - 15 per cent will get type 2 within 2 - 10 years of delivery. This climbs higher in the most at risk ethnic groups where the figure can be as high as 50 per cent.

Screening involves an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. If gestational diabetes is diagnosed, you should aim to replace your usual three big meals a day with five or six smaller meals spread out over the day. Importantly, stay physically active.

Commonly the gestational diabetes will disappear after baby's arrival, it is also very important to have another Oral Glucose Tolerance test done six to eight weeks after the delivery.

Gestational Diabetes Management and Prevention Guide

A type of diabetes whereby the blood sugar level of a woman goes up when she is pregnant but comes back to normal after delivery is called Gestational Diabetes. Medicines alone are not enough for curing gestational diabetes. One must care for oneself as well as one's baby with the help of advice from the nurse, diabetes, a qualified dietitian, and any other professional health care advisers. With the required information, one can have a successful and healthy baby. Food and proper exercise can have curative effect on the blood sugar level and help to protect one from gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes can make the baby too large which causes delivery problems and the baby may have low blood sugar. But it can be cured and controlled with proper treatment to give birth to a healthy baby.

Home Treatment for gestational diabetes

Once a person has gestational diabetes there is every chance that the mother may develop it again at a future date with a risk for type 2 diabetes. The mother must take care to keep a healthy weight without becoming overweight. The mother has to avoid any form of medication that has resistance against insulin. Birth control pills such as progestin-only should be avoided as this increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Consulting your doctor is important to decide on a suitable type of contraception method. All pregnant women must take prenatal vitamins. On the other hand, it is important not to take too much vitamins as it is counter effective as well.

Additional steps that women can take

Many women with gestational diabetes however do give birth to normal babies. The blood sugar has to be controlled first. The mother need not eat any new or special foods. The amount of food that you eat must be changed and the timings of the meals need to be altered too. The mother need not join any costly gym or do any fancy exercises. Walking alone provides the necessary mild exercise.

How to protect the baby

The baby which is born from a mother who has gestational diabetes undergoes a high risk of being overweight and the baby too can develop type 2 diabetes. The best option for the mother is to breast feed the baby as this will reduce the chances of the baby becoming overweight. Eating healthy food and exercising regularly is a must as the baby gets older to prevent type 2 diabetes. Fetal growth must be monitored often and one must keep count of the kicks. Fetal ultrasounds and nonstress tests can also be taken to see that the weight of the baby is not above normal.

Balanced diet and exercise

Carbohydrate intake must be reduced. One must write down all that one eats and keep a check of one's weight. At least 2 hours must be devoted to exercise. Moderated exercise makes insulin more effective in controlling blood sugar level. The pregnant mother may even join special exercise classes specially formulated for such groups. A home blood sugar test must be done which help to give you peace of mind.

Conclusion

The best way to treat gestational diabetes is to change the way you eat and to exercise regularly. In spite of all these changes if the diabetes still persists one may have to receive insulin shots. This will help in reducing the blood sugar level and protecting the baby concurrently.

Gestational Diabetes Guidelines For Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is a state experienced by a woman that requires care and attention especially that a new life is being formed. What happens to the mother can affect the child inside the womb. That is why if you are pregnant and you are experiencing certain problems, you must seek medical attention immediately and seek for advice of what you need to do in order to take care of the baby while inside your body. One of the common medical conditions in pregnant women that need care and attention is gestational diabetes.

This type of diabetes that occurs in women requires monitoring of blood sugar as often as possible. Schedules will be given by your specialist as to when you need to check the level of your blood sugar throughout the day. This is important in pregnant women because a decrease or an increase in the blood glucose level can lead to complications that affect not only the mother but also the baby as well.

If you are directed to take medications then do it. Oral hypoglycemic medications are prescribed for diabetes during pregnancy. Insulin administration on the other hand can also be a possible management for this condition. Either way, you have to follow the orders of your physician based on proper intake of medications and administration of insulin. You must also make sure that you will have to refer any medications that you will take in the course of your pregnancy.

If you are taking insulin injections, you must have the knowledge on when you need the dose. You must be flexible according to the situation because it can vary based on what you are doing and what you are experiencing. For instance, an increase on insulin dosage may be required from you during the last three months of your pregnancy. This is due to the fact that there are hormones produced by your placenta for the growth of the baby that blocks the effect of insulin.

Remember that you can eat the same foods even if you are having gestational diabetes but it will vary on the amount. You must consult your doctor or a dietitian as to what the guidelines of your eating habits are. This will help you create a meal plan suitable for your condition to prevent any complications that can affect the baby.

Moreover, you must not forget to include daily exercise that will somehow help in the reduction of the high blood glucose level in this type of diabetes that occurs in pregnant women. But do not forget to still seek the advice from your physician whether the exercises that you will do will be good for your management regimen and whether there will be a need to change the dose of medications with exercise.

Lastly, do not miss to have your pre-natal checkups. This will help you open up to your physician any concerns that you have. Through the check-ups also, the medical team will be able to monitor your condition and that of the baby.

So, if you are experiencing diabetes during pregnancy, do not worry. Together with the health care team and your cooperation, this condition will be managed and you will be able to get through with it without any complications in the course of your pregnancy.

Essentials of Gestational Diabetes You Must Remember

There are many diabetes types that can occur to a person and one is common in pregnant women as gestational diabetes. This medical condition is just the same with other types where there is an increase of sugar levels in the blood. This condition can be short lived wherein normal blood glucose levels can return after delivery. But during the course of pregnancy, the condition must be managed in order to prevent any situations that can threaten the life of the mother as well as the baby.

Diabetes symptoms of this kind are not noticeable that is why as soon as you discover that you are pregnant, you must seek medical attention immediately. Your prenatal checkup especially during the last half of your pregnancy will tell whether you have increased glucose in the blood and you need further evaluation. Other specialists will examine you and they will be able to help you on how to manage your condition to prevent any complications as you carry the baby with you for nine months.

The causes of diabetes of this kind are not known exactly. But it can be due to the fact that the placenta that provides nutrition to the baby also produces hormones which block the effects of insulin in lowering blood sugar in the body. Once there is less insulin that helps deliver glucose to the cells for fuel, blood glucose will build up in the blood. With increased blood sugar levels, it can have a great effect on the baby.

There are certain risk factors that incline a woman to be more prone to gestational diabetes. First of all, women older than 25 and who got pregnant are more at risk to having this kind of diabetes. Moreover, those who have a family history of diabetes and those who are amazingly overweight are more likely to develop this medical condition. Lastly, the race of the woman is also a factor.

When this kind of diabetes is not managed, it can create complications that can affect the baby. First of all, it can produce a very large baby that can create troubles during delivery. Moreover, the baby has stored large amounts of insulin due to the response to the high glucose levels of the mother. However, once the baby is out the situation can be different. The increased levels of insulin can lead to hypoglycemia. It is even related to certain developmental problems.

Moreover, it can also affect your pregnancy state. You can be prone to preeclampsia due to increased blood pressure leading to seizures. Urinary tract infections are also common when you have gestational diabetes because the presence of glucose in urine is a good medium for the growth of microorganisms. Having this kind of condition also has a possibility that you will develop diabetes even if you are not pregnant.

That is why whenever you have this kind of condition when you are pregnant; make sure that you will follow accordingly what your obstetrician will tell you so that you will not experience any complications.

Helpful Diet For Gestational Diabetes

In gestational diabetes, it is imperative to have a good nutrition when you are pregnant. Diabetes develops when your body can't effectively produce insulin or use it to any parts of the body. Insulin is a hormone manufactured by the pancreas that to turn sugar or glucose in your blood into usable fuel. When huge amounts of glucose build up in your blood, it means that your cells are not getting that much fuel they need. If this happens, this will result to a high blood sugar which can be harmful for you and your developing baby.

One simple way to stabilize blood sugar levels is to follow a specific meal plan. It is strongly recommended that you seek for a registered dietitian who can construct a diet particularly suited for you, basing on your weight, height, lifestyle, physical activity, developing needs of your baby and level of glucose intolerance. Food preferences may also be taken into account. If dietary changes would not be enough to keep your blood sugar in a healthy range, taking insulin is an option.

Here are the general guidelines when it comes to your gestational diabetes diet. Try to munch through variety of foods. It is very important to evenly distribute calories and carbohydrates throughout the day. Both your meals and snacks should be balanced. It is highly recommended that you consume three small size meals and four snacks every day with an after-dinner snack already. Your meal plan may contain fewer carbohydrates than you normally have, but these carbohydrates will continue to provide most of your caloric needs.

Never attempt to skip meals. Consistency is the key point here. Be steady and consistent about the time you eat them and the amount of food consumed. You must follow a strict guideline in order to stay away from risking your own health. It is deemed important that a very consistent approach is taken in order for your life to go a long way. Blood sugar level will stabilize if foods are evenly distributed throughout the day.

Eating a good breakfast with high fiber foods is greatly recommended. It was once found out that breakfast is the best mealtime of the day. You can ignore lunch or dinner but never disregard breakfast. These high fiber foods are whole grain breads, cereals, dried peas, beans, legumes and fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods when digested in the body are absorbed slowly, thus, keeping your blood sugar levels on a normal healthy range.