Diabetes In Pregnancy

Do you know why there are women who suffer from diabetes in pregnancy? There are actually certain factors that make pregnant women prone to suffer from diabetes.

According to Diabetes.org, during pregnancy – usually around the 24th week – many women develop gestational diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes doesn’t mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes after giving birth. But it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice regarding blood glucose (blood sugar) levels while you’re planning your pregnancy, so you and your baby both remain healthy.

Source: Diabetes.org

Now the most important thing to understand is who are those at risk for developing diabetes in pregnancy? By understanding these factors, you will be able to take measures in preventing the condition from setting in.

WebMD has provided us with the risk factors, which include:

• Being overweight prior to becoming pregnant (if you are 20% or more over your ideal body weight)
• Being a member of a high risk ethnic group (Hispanic, Black, Native American, or Asian)
• Having sugar in your urine
• Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be diabetes)
• Family history of diabetes (if your parents or siblings have diabetes)
• Previously giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds
• Previously giving birth to a stillborn baby
• Having gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy
• Having too much amniotic fluid (a condition called polyhydramnios)

Many women who develop gestational diabetes have no known risk factors.

Source: WebMD

So how will you be able to prevent the onset of gestational diabetes? Here are some tips as provided by Mayo Clinic:

• Eat healthy foods. Choose foods high in fiber and low in fat and calories. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without compromising taste or nutrition.
• Keep active. Exercising before and during pregnancy can help protect you against developing gestational diabetes. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of your week. Take a brisk daily walk. Ride your bike. Swim laps. If you can’t fit a single 30-minute workout into your busy day, several shorter sessions can do just as much good. Park in the distant lot when you run errands. Get off the bus one stop before you reach your destination. Every step you take increases your chances of staying healthy.
• Lose excess pounds before pregnancy. Doctors don’t recommend weight loss during pregnancy — your body is already working overtime to support your baby’s development. But if you’re planning to get pregnant, losing extra weight beforehand may help you have a healthier pregnancy. Focus on permanent changes to your eating habits. Motivate yourself by remembering the long-term benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem.

Source: Mayo Clinic

If you are planning to get pregnant, it is truly best that you take note of the risk factors as well as how you will be able to prevent gestational diabetes from ever setting in.

Diabetes In Pregnancy is a post from: Natural Health Magazine