When pregnant, many mums-to-be worried about the risks to their health. That is normal, because your health reflects your unborn baby’s health. Therefore, you must take good care of yourself and your body. One of the most common worries mums’ faces are gestational diabetes. Would they get it? Will it affect their baby? And many more questions cross their minds about it. Learn here all about pregnancy diabetes.
All You Need to Know about Pregnancy Diabetes
What is pregnancy diabetes?
This kind of diabetes happens to pregnant mums, especially after 24 weeks of being pregnant. It is a result of having very high sugar levels in the blood. Which is mostly due to the great hormonal changes that accompanies being pregnant.
Do all pregnant mums get it?
There are many factors that play a role in the chances of getting this type of diabetes. Mums who experienced any of these factors are more likely to get it. Those factors include:
- – Obesity and excessive weight gain.
- – Family history of diabetes.
- – Pregnant mums over the age of 35.
- – Having delivered a +4-kilogram baby before.
- – Experiencing polycystic ovaries.
- – Having experienced pregnancy diabetes before.
What are the risks of pregnancy diabetes?
When a pregnant mum experiences high blood sugar levels, it will get to her baby through the placenta. This will make unborn babies gain more weight, making natural baby delivery more complicated. It might also result in oxygen deficiency, which might cause many other risks to the baby. Moreover, those reasons might force a c-section delivery instead of a natural birth. In addition, delivering a baby while having gestational diabetes might cause the baby’s sugar to drop massively post-delivery. Which will force doctors to place the baby in their prematurity room.
Tips to protect yourself from pregnancy diabetes
1| Keep up a healthy and balanced diet.
Keeping up a healthy and balanced diet is key to protect you against gestational diabetes. This means cutting off sugary foods and focusing on complex carbohydrates. Such as whole grains.
2| Cut off harmful fats.
You must cut off harmful fats to protect both yourself and your unborn baby. Instead, include healthy fats in your diet. Such as olive oil and avocados. In addition, avoid fried foods, fatty meats, and processed cheese.
3| Eat more vegetables and fruits.
Add more vegetables and leafy greens to your diet. Avoid sweets and replace them with yummy, sweet fruits. Also, add more dairy products to your diet if you can. All of these include many vitamins and minerals that every mum needs during her pregnancy. But keep in mind to eat fruits as allowed – because they also include sugar. So, they might cause high blood sugar when eaten excessively.
4| Never skip breakfast.
Breakfast is the most important meal during the day. Having a healthy and balanced breakfast helps keep your sugar levels in check. Therefore, make sure to never skip breakfast. You can have oatmeal, eggs, or avocado on whole grain toast.
5| Maintain physical activity.
Some mums do less physical activity during their pregnancy. While it is important for you to get plenty of rest. It is just as important to keep moving. Walk daily for 30 minutes or do some light exercise. This will help you keep off pregnancy weight and maintain balanced sugar levels.
6| Keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.
To keep your mind at ease, get a lancet device to test your sugar levels on a daily basis. Test your sugar levels when you first wake up, and after 2 hours from eating. Record the results and share them with your doctor. Also, keep an eye on your weight and record it as well. Your doctor can tell you whether the weight you gain is normal or a little abnormal. In addition, you can follow up with a diatitan to help you plan your meals and get all the nutrition you and your baby need.
7| Always consult your doctor.
In some cases, doctors prescribe diabetes medication for pregnant mums. That depends on their need for it. Therefore, always make sure to include and consult with your doctor.
What happens after delivering your baby?
After delivering your baby, your sugar levels will go back to normal. But it is important to keep up a healthy and balanced diet. Because having gestational diabetes increases the chances of having type 2 diabetes. So, eat healthy, exercise, and keep checking in with your doctor.
