Managing diabetes during pregnancy
By: Sandra ThomasTotal Views: 278, Word Count: 576,
In gestational diabetes, the key is to maintain your blood sugar levels. This will reduce any risks of complications due to diabetes. Dietary modifications and exercise will help to control blood sugars initially. If this alone is not enough then insulin injections may be required.
How to maintain diabetes through diet?
- Avoid eating sugar and sweets completely. This includes the sugar in your coffee and tea. Honey and brown sugar should also be avoided.
- The carbohydrate content in your meals should be reduced. This means that you will have to reduce the intake of rice, wheat and other cereals. Wheat or rye can be substituted for rice at one or two meals. It is the total calorie restriction that is important.
- Increasing your fiber intake will also be helpful. Fiber includes that found in vegetables and also in carbohydrates like wheat, oats, rye, soya and barley.
- You are allowed to eat only certain fruits such as apple, guava, orange or pomegranate.
- A low fat diet is helpful as it prevents excess weight gain. This means you need to avoid eating junk, deep fried foods and butter.
- You do need a certain minimum number of calories, so an appropriate diet chart will be given to you by your dietician. Eating too little is also not good for the baby.
How to maintain diabetes through exercise?
Any activity that keeps you moving and gets your heart rate up (what is known as aerobic activity), is helpful as it makes your insulin work better. Try to control your weight during pregnancy as it reduces the risk of gestational diabetes Walking for a minimum of 30-45 minutes daily is necessary.. This can be done at any time, morning or night, or can split up. If you are on insulin, have a discussion with your doctor before you start a vigorous exercise program.
Maintaining diabetes through insulin
Despite of making the above lifestyle changes, blood sugar levels may remain high. In such a situation you may need daily injections of insulin. You might need to be admitted for a few days to the hospital initially to adjust the dose of insulin. Your obstetrician will usually refer you to physician or endocrinologist who deals with diabetic patients on a regular basis.
The amount of insulin needed to control glucose levels throughout the day varies from woman to woman and depends on various other factors. Your doctor will tell you how to use insulin and how many daily injections you will need. The number of injections and dose of insulin you need may change as the baby grows. When insulin is needed to control diabetes during pregnancy, the diet and insulin dose must be balanced at all times to prevent harmful levels of glucose. Any woman who needs to take insulin can easily be taught how to take it herself.
Insulin will not affect your baby; on the other hand the good control of blood sugar levels with the help of insulin will ensure that your baby is healthy.
Sometimes a slightly higher dose can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Common symptoms of hypoglycemia are weakness, hunger, shaking and sweating. For women taking insulin, it is a good idea to keep a quick snack at your reach at all times in case low blood sugar develops.
About the Author
Sandra Thomas is a practicing gynecologist based in Denmark. She has been contributing to the field of Women Health and Maternity issues since ten years.
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