Wakad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, care@sunmedhospital.com
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and affects how your body processes sugar. While it usually goes away after delivery, it requires careful monitoring and management to ensure both the mother and the baby remain healthy. Understanding the condition, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention methods can help ensure better outcomes for both.
When the body cannot create enough insulin to satisfy the increasing needs of pregnancy, gestational diabetes develops. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Ingested sugars from food enter the bloodstream, and insulin helps the cells absorb the sugar for energy. During pregnancy, hormonal changes can interfere with the action of insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. If left unmanaged, this condition can cause complications for both the mother and the baby.
The symptoms of gestational diabetes are often undetectable in women. Nonetheless, some people might observe:
Increased thirstFrequent urinationFatigueBlurry visionThese symptoms are common in pregnancy, so it can be easy to overlook them. That’s why regular screening is essential during pregnancy to detect gestational diabetes.
Although the precise origin of gestational diabetes is unknown, hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy are thought to be a contributing factor. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body becomes less responsive to insulin due to hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Blood sugar levels rise as a result. Gestational diabetes risk can be raised by a number of factors:
Being overweight or obeseHaving a family history of diabetesAge (women over 25 are at a higher risk)Previous gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancyScreening tests are usually conducted between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy to determine gestational diabetes. The most popular test is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which measures how the body reacts to sugar by having blood collected at regular intervals, having a sugary liquid to drink, and fasting for the entire night.
Managing gestational diabetes is crucial to ensure the health of both the mother and the baby. The main goals of treatment are to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range. Treatment may include:
Dietary Changes: Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help manage blood sugar levels. It’s essential to limit sugary foods and refined carbohydrates.Exercise: Regular physical activity, such as walking, can help improve the body’s ability to use insulin.Monitoring Blood Sugar: Women with gestational diabetes are advised to regularly check their blood sugar levels to ensure they are within the target range.Insulin Therapy: Insulin injections could be required if lifestyle modifications are insufficient to regulate blood sugar levels. Oral drugs, such as metformin, are sometimes prescribed.Close Monitoring: Frequent prenatal care is necessary to track the mother's health and the development of the unborn child.Although gestational diabetes cannot be completely avoided, there are things you may do to reduce your risk:
Maintain a Healthy Weight: If you are planning to get pregnant, achieving a healthy weight before conception can reduce your risk of gestational diabetes.Adopt a Healthy Diet: Focus on a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Limit sugary snacks and beverages.Exercise Regularly: Frequent exercise, such swimming or walking, lowers the risk of gestational diabetes and helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.Monitor Your Health: If you have risk factors for gestational diabetes, regular screening and early monitoring during pregnancy are essential.Although gestational diabetes can be controlled, it needs to be monitored and treated. Most women can have a healthy pregnancy and birth if they receive the right diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes. Preventing difficulties for both the mother and the unborn child requires early detection and treatment of gestational diabetes. Book an appointment with our expert gynecologist at SunMed Hospital for your pregnancy journey.
The best treatment includes monitoring blood sugar levels, following a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and sometimes taking insulin or medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Control it by eating low-glycemic foods, monitoring blood sugar, exercising, managing weight, and following your healthcare provider’s recommendations.
In most cases, gestational diabetes resolves after delivery, but it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.
Risk factors include obesity, a family history of diabetes, being over 25, previous gestational diabetes, and having a baby weighing over 9 pounds in a previous pregnancy.
If unmanaged, it can lead to complications like a larger baby size, premature birth, low blood sugar in the baby, or increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.
It occurs when pregnancy hormones interfere with insulin, causing blood sugar levels to rise.
Maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and have regular prenatal checkups.
The fasting blood sugar level should be below 95 mg/dL, and 1-hour post-meal levels should be below 140 mg/dL.
