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Treating Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without proper insulin utilization, glucose cannot leave the bloodstream and be changes to fuel for the body. Glucose then builds up in the blood to dangerous levels. This is called hyperglycemia and can cause harm to you and your baby.
Treating Gestational Diabetes
Because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, you need to begin therapy for the disease right away. Treatment for gestational diabetes aims at keeping blood glucose levels near equal to pregnant women who don't have the disease. Treatment includes a specialized diet and nutritional package and exercise program. It may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections. You will need help from your physician or diabetes educator so that your treatment and glucose reading may be analyzed. Close work with your diabetes educator will expedite a quick evaluation of test readings and your ability to make any necessary changes to your treatment program.
For the mothers, successful treatment for gestational diabetes helps lower the risk of cesarean section birth that "fat babies" may require. Remember that gestational diabetes babies have higher glucose levels which puts them at a higher risk for obesity, among other problems. Successful treatment will provide for a healthier mother, a healthy pregnancy and birth, and a baby's health across his or her lifespan.
Educate yourself about gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born. But once you have had the disorder, there is a 70% chance it will come back in later pregnancies. In some women, gestational diabetes can be followed by type I and type II diabetes. It is unclear though if gestational diabetes type 1 and type 2 diabetes if has just sped up the process on another disease that has already been developing.
Certain lifestyle changes may make a woman less likely to developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes after developing gestational diabetes.
- Losing weight. Losing weight may help to avoid type 2 diabetes.
- Choose a health promoting diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables, and reduce your fat intake.
- Physical activity and exercise. A healthy exercise routing helps your body to use glucose, thus reducing glucose levels without the need for insulin. Exercise will promote a healthy baby and a healthy mom.
Click below for some of our links about diabetes related problems and treatment options.
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