Nishi was 6 months pregnant when she was detected with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), a form of high blood sugar/glucose levels affecting pregnant women. She got confused and really worried, as she never had an inclination towards sweets both before and during her pregnancy. Most women diagnosed with gestational diabetes don’t have any symptoms.

Her gynecologist told her “There is nothing to worry. It’s just that from now you have to be extra vigilant about your diet”. And explained her in detail about this condition.

GDM typically develops during the third trimester of pregnancy and impacts both maternal and child health. In certain cases, it has also known to appear in the first trimester. It can even affect women with no previous diagnosis of diabetes.

You are more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you:

• Were overweight before you got pregnant. As extra weight makes it harder for your body to use insulin.
• Gained weight very quickly during your pregnancy.
• Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes.
• Had high blood sugar levels previously, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. This is called prediabetes.
• Had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
• Are over age 25.
• Gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds previously.
• Had a baby who was stillborn.
• Have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

There is no way to guarantee that you won’t get gestational diabetes. But there are ways to lower the risks associated. With proper treatment and regular monitoring by your practitioner, gestational diabetes can be managed and you can have a healthy pregnancy. However, if gestational diabetes is left untreated, excessive sugar will circulate in your blood and enter your baby’s bloodstream through the placenta, putting both you and your baby at risk for potentially serious complications.

Babies of women with uncontrolled GDM are more likely to grow too large, making delivery more difficult and C-section more likely. Being born large can also lead to high blood sugar levels in baby at birth and obesity later in childhood. Moms with GDM are also at risk for developing preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension), which can lead to other problems for your baby after birth including jaundice, breathing difficulties and low blood sugar levels. Later in life, preeclampsia can also put your baby at greater risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

If you are diagnosed with GDM, for a healthy pregnancy here is what you should do –

• Monitor your blood sugar level several times a day
• Follow the prescribed diet plan strictly
• Keep a food log: After each meal, write down everything you ate along with your blood glucose details
• Go for a walk or exercise lower your glucose levels
• Keep your prenatal appointments

You may feel deprived when you can’t have foods you love. You may even not feel motivated to exercise, especially if you are feeling tired and sluggish. But you are not alone in struggling with these changes. By changing your lifestyle and the food you eat, you are giving your baby the best chance to have a healthy start in life.

Image Source: AmericanPregnancy.org