Gestational Diabetes



There are about 3 per cent of non-diabetic women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy which usually occurs in the last trimester. This type of diabetes usually disappears after delivery. However, study shows that as many as 50 per cent of women with gestational diabetes develop Type II diabetes later in life. This is especially true if they are overweight. For this reason, it is highly recommended that women should regulate their weight gain during pregnancy.



Risk for Developing Gestational Diabetes

To ensure that the problems of gestational diabetes are dealt with promptly, the attending health care professional should screen the following risk factors:

Pregnancy Complications

A number of complications and risks accompany gestational diabetes. Unregulated or poor blood glucose level in pregnancy can lead to problems for the infant such as heart damage, neural tube defects, limb deformities, birth trauma, and neonatal hypoglycaemia. In addition, women with gestational diabetes may face higher risk for obesity and diabetes when they get older. It is important to monitor blood glucose daily, especially in the last trimester. Stillbirth may become more likely when fasting glucose level exceeds 10mg/dL or as pregnancy progresses past term.

Dietary Recommendations

The recommended diet should meet the needs of pregnancy and maternal blood glucose goals. To keep blood glucose at normal levels, restrict carbohydrates to 35-40 per cent of energy intake. To avoid excessive weight gain, obese women should limit energy intake to about 25 kcalories per kilogram body weight. Proper diets and moderate exercise help to manage gestational diabetes, but if blood glucose remains high, insulin or other medications may be required.

Information On How You Can Manage & Control Diabetes