Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most awaited period in the life of a woman. That Feeling of hope and the joys of motherhood is the best that life can offer. You become a creator yourselves. This power of creation also comes with lots of emotions, feeling and turmoil of thoughts. Of course, it also brings a lot of responsibilities. One such responsibility is to take care of the baby physically and this starts with taking care of ourselves first. Today we’ll discuss one of the most important things to be aware of during pregnancy- Gestational Diabetes.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Our body runs on energy. This energy is derived by our cells from the blood sugar with the help of a hormone called Insulin. When your body makes more than the sufficient amount of insulin required by the body, the state is called diabetes and diabetes during pregnancy is called Gestational diabetes. In short, an increase in blood sugar during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. Due to frequent hormonal and other bodily changes during pregnancy, there are more chances of gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

Those who develop gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Unlike other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes usually goes away on its own and soon after delivery, blood sugar levels return to normal. Babies of mothers who have gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.

Remedies & Treatments:

1. Distribute Your Foods Between Three Meals and Two or Three Snacks Each Day.

Food cravings during pregnancy are well-known but eating too much at one time can cause your blood sugar to go too high which can increase the risk of high blood sugar. So, it's better to distribute your meals in small chunks throughout the day.

2. Eat Reasonable Portions of Starch.

Keep tabs on starch rich food such as bread, sweet or regular potatoes, pasta, rice, cereals, noodles, oats and legumes like lentils or beans. When in doubt, always turn to your doctor or nutritionist for a customized and balanced diet.

3. Drink One Cup of Milk At a Time.

Milk is a healthy food and an important source of calcium. However, milk is a liquid form of carbohydrate and drinking too much at one time can raise your blood sugar.

4. Breakfast Matters.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It becomes even more important during pregnancy as it enables you to feel full and can help keep blood glucose levels stable.

5. Avoid Canned Fruit Juice.

Canned fruit juice contains a large amount of sugar which raises blood sugar levels very quickly.

6. Strictly Limit Sweets and Desserts.

We know it’s a tough ask but for the sake of a healthy pregnancy limit the intake of cakes, cookies, candies, and pastries as these are highly likely to raise blood sugar levels too much. These foods often contain a lot of fat and offer very little nutrition.

8. Stay Away from Products with Added Sugars.

Look for these on the ingredient list of packaged products:

• Aspartame
• Acesulfame
• Sucralose
• Stevia
   

Before consuming any kind of packed edible item such as candies, chewing gum or mouth freshener, check the contents at the back. If any of the above is present in it, it’s better to avoid eating it during pregnancy.

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FAQs on Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy

Q1. What happens if you have gestational diabetes when pregnant?

Gestational diabetes during pregnancy can cause your as well baby’s blood sugar levels to rise. Due to the alarming levels of the baby’s blood sugar, he or she becomes overfed and grows abnormally large. 

This excessive growth can cause discomfort to the pregnant woman and might lead to problems during delivery for both the mother and the baby.
 

Q2. What is the main cause of gestational diabetes during pregnancy?

When you are expecting a baby, your body accelerates hormone production and undergoes certain changes, such as weight gain. All these changes limit the body's cells to use insulin effectively. This condition is called insulin resistance and causes gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

Q3. How can I control my gestational diabetes fast?

Moderate physical activity like Yoga can help you control gestational diabetes fast. Prenatal Yoga for pregnant women is an effective way to control blood sugar levels as it improves the functioning of insulin better.