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Treatment For Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes that develops during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. If a woman has diabetes before she is pregnant, this is called pre-existing diabetes, not gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes affects about four percent of pregnancies. Though the cause of gestational diabetes is not completely understood, a hormone that is produced that encourages the growth of the baby can inhibit the ability of the mother’s natural insulin to metabolize glucose.

Gestational diabetes occurs late in a pregnancy. This condition does not cause birth defects, but may affect the baby by increasing the baby’s body mass. Large babies can be susceptible to injury during birth.

If a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes, the newborn may be at an increased risk for breathing problems. Newborns of women with gestational diabetes may also have low blood glucose levels at birth. People whose mothers had gestational diabetes during the pregnancy may be prone to obesity and type II diabetes.

Blood tests are done to check for gestational diabetes. A blood sample may be drawn at the beginning of the test. The pregnant woman is required to drink a glucose solution and have at least one more blood test after time has passed.

Gestational diabetes is treated with a diabetic diet. A pregnant woman with gestational diabetes may need to meet with a dietitian who will create a diabetic diet for the pregnant woman to follow.

The diabetic diet typically includes three meals and two snacks each day. The diet usually specifies how many servings of each food group should be eaten with each meal and snack. The dietician may provide a food exchange list that includes suggestions and serving sizes for each food group.

Checking blood sugar levels is an important part of managing gestational diabetes. The woman may be required to check her blood sugar levels multiple times a day and report the readings to the doctor’s office. If the gestational diabetes is not well managed, the pregnant woman may need to start taking insulin by injection.

Women and newborns rarely have lasting effects from gestational diabetes after birth. The woman may have an increased risk of type II diabetes. The effects of gestational diabetes are usually minimal if it is properly managed.