Diabetes mellitus in pregnant women: what threatens and what to do

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Gestational diabetes mellitus, also called gestational diabetes mellitus, is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism during pregnancy, characterized by persistently elevated blood sugar levels. In most cases, this disease goes away after childbirth as spontaneously as it appeared. Nevertheless, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, you will have to reconsider your habits and diet for some time so as not to harm yourself or your baby.

If during pregnancy you were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, treat this situation with attention and carefully follow the recommendations of your doctor. After all, diabetes during pregnancy is dangerous because it can be transmitted to the baby. In addition, if you do not control the course of diabetes mellitus, then the child by the time of delivery may be too large, which will complicate their course. Fortunately, modern medicine is able to cope with this disease and mitigate its consequences as much as possible for both the mother and the baby. Therefore, if the diagnosis is made on time, and the doctor's recommendations are followed, in 99% of cases, the health of the woman in labor and the child does not cause concern.

If the diagnosis is made on time, and the doctor's recommendations are followed, in 99% of cases, the health of the woman in labor and the child does not cause concern.

Diabetes of pregnant women develops and is diagnosed, as a rule, at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy with the help of a special blood test. At risk, first of all, there are overweight women, those who have already shown gestational diabetes earlier, as well as those who have close relatives with second-degree diabetes mellitus.

In most cases, pregnancy diabetes can be controlled by following three rules: dietary control, regular blood sugar measurements, and physical activity.

Nutrition. Since diabetes means that your body has stopped absorbing carbohydrates as it should, you will have to be very careful in consuming any carbohydrate food. White bread and any products made from white flour, as well as cereals (pasta, ordinary rice) are completely excluded. Sweets, grapes, bananas, dried fruits, sugar, sweet soda, juices are also excluded from the menu. Small portions of whole grain flours are acceptable: bread, pasta, wild rice. The main task of the diet for pregnant women is to reduce the amount of harmful carbohydrates as much as possible, but continue to gain weight so that the baby grows and forms correctly. Therefore, it will not work to completely exclude carbohydrates from the menu. Another principle: frequent meals, fasting is unacceptable.

Control. Blood sugar levels will need to be monitored before meals and an hour later to ensure that all readings are normal. Even if you eat the same food every day, your sugar levels may differ. Therefore, you will have to measure it regularly.

Activity. In addition to this, you need to move more: even small fifteen-minute walks can help normalize blood sugar levels.

Sample diet menu for women with pregnancy diabetes:

Breakfast:

2 slices whole grain bread with cheese or sausage

or

Whole grain oatmeal (small handful) with one fruit (apple) and nuts

or

Yogurt 250 gr without additives and one fruit

Tea without sugar (with sweetener), water

Snack:

250 gr of kefir or yogurt without additives

One fruit

Dinner:

Meat, fish or poultry

Small serving of whole grain pasta or wild rice or 4 egg-sized potatoes

Vegetable salad

Water

Snack:

Avocado

Whole grain bread slice with cheese

Dinner:

Vegetables

Meat, fish or poultry

Small serving of whole grain pasta or wild rice or 4 egg-sized potatoes

or

2 slices whole grain bread with cheese or sausage

Snack:

250 gr of kefir or yogurt without additives

Handful of nuts

If diabetes cannot be corrected with diet, doctors use insulin injections. In this case, there will be no dietary restrictions. Therapy is carried out only during pregnancy, and insulin dependence does not occur.

Therapy is carried out only during pregnancy, and insulin dependence does not occur.

Having gestational diabetes does not mean that natural childbirth is prohibited for you. Most women with diabetes can give birth naturally under the supervision of an experienced doctor and with regular monitoring of their baby's blood sugar and heart rate during labor.

As a rule, sugar returns to normal within a few weeks after childbirth, and the diagnosis of diabetes is removed. But doctors advise to take tests again 2-4 months after giving birth to make sure everything is in order.

Women who have experienced gestational diabetes should be aware that they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes after age 40. But that risk can be mitigated by eating right, keeping weight under control, and exercising regularly.

And finally, good news. If you develop diabetes during pregnancy, this does not mean that you will have it again during your next pregnancy.

So even if you have been diagnosed with pregnancy diabetes, do not panic, but focus on the rules that need to be followed for your health and the health of your baby.