subject: Simple Guide To Managing And Treating Gestational Diabetes [print this page] Gestational diabetes is a disease whereby the blood sugar level of a woman goes up during pregnancy and goes back to normal after her delivery. In today's context, medication alone might not be sufficient to treat gestational diabetes. Among other things, one can take additional steps and advices from a qualified dietitian or any other professional health to better care for themselves and most importantly for the unborn baby. Keeping a healthy diet and appropriate exercising are both good measures to help protect one from gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes can reduce the baby blood sugar and accelerate the baby growth which might be an issue during delivery. But it can be cured and controlled with proper treatment to give birth to a healthy baby.
Home Treatment for gestational diabetes
Once a person has gestational diabetes there is every chance that the mother may develop it again at a future date with a risk for type 2 diabetes. The mother must take care to keep a healthy weight without becoming overweight. The mother has to avoid any form of medication that has resistance against insulin. Birth control pills such as progestin-only should not be taken as this medication increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Consulting your doctor is important to decide on a suitable type of contraception method. Prenatal vitamins should be taken by all pregnant women. On the other hand, it is important not to take too much vitamins as it is counter effective as well.
Additional steps that women can take
Many women with gestational diabetes however do give birth to normal babies. Controlling the blood sugar has to be the first step. The mother need not eat any new or special foods. The amount of food that you eat must be changed and the timings of the meals need to be altered too. The mother need not join any costly gym or do any fancy exercises. For mild exercises, walking should be sufficient.
How to protect the baby
The baby which is born from a mother who has gestational diabetes undergoes a high risk of being overweight and the baby too can develop type 2 diabetes. The best way to keep the baby's weight in check is breast feeding. As the child gets older her must be spurred to eat fibrous, healthy food and to do proper exercise in order to prevent getting type 2 diabetes. Fetal growth must be monitored often and one must keep count of the kicks. Fetal ultrasounds and nonstress tests can also be taken to see that the weight of the baby is not above normal.
Balanced diet and exercise
Carbohydrate intake must be reduced. One must write down all that one eats and keep a check of one's weight. At least 2 hours must be devoted to exercise. Exercising regularly helps in blood sugar management. There are classes out there formed to provide and help pregnant mothers to exercise correctly. A home blood sugar test must be done which help to give you peace of mind.
Conclusion
The best way to treat gestational diabetes is to change the way you eat and to exercise regularly. In spite of all these changes if the diabetes still persists one may have to receive insulin shots. This will help in reducing the blood sugar level and protecting the baby concurrently.
