How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes

About 10% of women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. If you feel anxious or uncertain about this diagnosis, our experts at Salem Women’s Clinic, Inc. offer the guidance you need to thrive throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

As November is National Diabetes Month, our board-certified OB/GYN team wants to offer tips to women with gestational diabetes to support a healthy pregnancy.

Understanding gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition that causes high blood sugar levels in women who are pregnant. The root cause of the disease isn’t well understood, but there’s a belief that the placenta produces hormones that prevent women from using the insulin hormone properly.

Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar in the blood into energy. Without enough insulin, the body can’t regulate sugar levels in the blood, which stay elevated. A buildup of glucose in an expectant mother’s bloodstream can negatively impact her health and increase risk factors for complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Complications of gestational diabetes include high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia) and injuries to the baby or mother during a vaginal delivery. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are also at greater risk for:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Jaundice
• Metabolic disease

While gestational diabetes often goes away after the baby is born, mothers might develop Type 2 diabetes following pregnancy.

What to expect during gestational diabetes testing

Testing for gestational diabetes is performed on pregnant women between weeks 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you’re at high risk for the condition due to your personal or family medical history, our OB/GYNs may request testing earlier in your pregnancy.

Testing involves a glucose tolerance test. Our providers give you a sugary solution to drink. After a waiting period of an hour or two, we draw a sample of blood to assess your glucose levels.

If your levels are high, you may need a follow-up glucose test by drinking an even sweeter solution and more frequent blood draws.

Tips to maintain a healthy pregnancy with gestational diabetes

The goals of treating gestational diabetes include keeping your blood sugar levels in a target range for the remainder of your pregnancy and preventing your baby from growing too big before delivery.

A change in diet is one of the most critical steps to achieve these goals and prevent gestational diabetes complications. Our physicians give you specific diet advice based on your current health.

However, there are strategies all women can use to regulate their blood sugar levels, including:

1. Consume more veggies and fruits

Fresh, organic produce should be a staple of your diet. Aim to eat at least five servings daily and limit sugary snacks like soda, cookies, and candy.

2. Eat whole grains

Add whole grain foods like brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and breads into your diet, and be mindful of your portion sizes.

3. Stay active

Daily exercise helps protect against gestational diabetes and prevents excess weight gain during pregnancy. You can take a brisk walk for 30 minutes or swim laps in the pool to get your heart rate up and burn off extra calories.

4. Follow through with prenatal care

Women with gestational diabetes can expect to schedule more frequent prenatal visits at Salem Women’s Clinic. These visits allow our team to monitor your health and your baby’s development.

We might also prescribe insulin if lifestyle and diet changes aren’t regulating your blood sugar levels. Insulin injections are safe for pregnant women, and our team continues to check your blood to ensure treatment is effective.

Call Salem Women’s Clinic in Salem, Oregon, today to learn more about managing gestational diabetes, or use the online feature to book an appointment.