0 Be aware of gestational diabetes

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estational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can happen during pregnancy even when you have never had diabetes before. It means you have a problem with high blood sugar while you are pregnant. But blood sugar usually returns to normal after delivery.

Gestational diabetes is more likely for women who are overweight or over 35 years of age or having a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes or having family history of gestational diabetes.

How can gestational diabetes affect me and my baby?

Gestational diabetes starts between 24^th and 28^th weeks of pregnancy and does not show symptoms. However, it can lead to complications later in mother and child unless the blood sugar is properly controlled. In the mother, it can lead to cesarean delivery and repeated infections and continuation of the diabetic state after or next pregnancy. In the baby it could lead to a death, jaundice, large babies with obstetric problems, low blood sugar after birth and respiratory distress syndrome. In addition the baby is more prone to develop diabetes and obesity in later life. But there are treatments to control blood sugar. This can help prevent a difficult birth. It also helps to keep your baby healthy.

How is gestational diabetes treated?

As gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby while it does not show symptoms, you have to do regular blood tests to check your blood sugar level and you should start treatment quickly. Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels equal to those of pregnant women who don't have gestational diabetes. Treatment for gestational diabetes always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. It may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections. You can get help from a dietitian or a doctor so that your treatment for gestational diabetes can be changed. Some women with gestational diabetes need insulin, in addition to a meal plan and physical activity, to reach their blood glucose targets. Insulin is not harmful for your baby as it cannot move from your bloodstream to the baby's.

Using a meal plan will help keep your blood glucose in your target range. The best way to improve your diet is by eating a variety of healthy foods and not skipping meals and snacks. Eat whole-grain foods such as whole-grain bread, bran cereal, or beans which provide the energy to you and your baby to keep your bodies working well. Eat fruits and vegetables and choose whole fruits than juices as they have more fiber. Or for fruit juices without added sweeteners or syrups is also good. In the selection of vegetables, you may go for dark green and deep yellow vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, and leafy vegetables.

You may choose eggs, fish and poultry as animal protein source. Because it helps to increase your blood volume and growth of breast and uterine tissues and it is very important for the growth and development of your baby. To reduce the fat intake, remove the skin and trim all visible fat from meat. And it is good to bake, roast or boil instead of frying. But don't cut fats and oils from your diet entirely because they provide long-term energy for growth and are essential for your baby’s brain development. So choose low-fat milk or yogurt and go easy on butter, margarine, and cooking oil. And the other thing is you should limit your intake of fast foods, and also sweets.

Remember, about 75% of women with gestational diabetes are able to keep their blood glucose levels within a normal range and provide the necessary nutrients for their baby just by sticking to a well-balanced diet.

With the meal plan, exercise is also an important way to keep blood sugar in control. Physical activities in pregnancy decrease the risk of developing gestational diabetes. There are so many safe exercises for pregnant mothers and walking is usually the easiest type of exercise.

As you take proper diet and regular exercise the gestational diabetes may go away after the baby's birth. But it increases your risk for diabetes in your next pregnancy and also later in life. So it is important that you continue to exercise, watch your weight and eat a healthy diet after pregnancy. If you do these things, you may avoid diabetes later in your life.