The light at the end of the tunnel with gestational diabetes is that the condition is only
present when you are pregnant. In almost all cases once your baby is born your pancreas
will continue to produce enough insulin for your and your body will process it properly.
In the rare case where it does not, it is likely that you were diabetic prior to becoming
pregnant and the diagnosis did not happen until the routine screening for pregnant
women. In either case, your doctor will have you continue to monitor your blood glucose
levels after the birth of your baby. At a minimum you should test for two days afterwards
but your doctor may request that you test for a period of up to two weeks.
During this time you will not be taking insulin. Your doctor is going to want to see how
your body is processing your food without the help of additional insulin. It is
recommended to continue with the diabetic diet going forward, it is a healthy way to eat
and if you are breastfeeding it will ensure that you and your baby are getting the nutrients
you need.
Another reason to continue with the diabetic lifestyle even after it is determined that you
no longer have gestational diabetes is to prevent getting type 2 diabetes. You are at an
increased risk of becoming insulin resistant (also known as type 2 diabetes) once you
have had gestational diabetes. Continue to eat the foods you would have while pregnant
and watch your portion sizes. After your doctor gives the okay, resume a routine of
physical activity even taking your baby for a walk in the stroller.
You will probably feel a sense of relief once your doctor pronounces you diabetes free
and you can concentrate on enjoying your new baby.
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In order to diagnose you with gestational diabetes, your healthcare provider will order a
test from the lab. There are two levels of the test that can be taken the one hour glucose
tolerance test and the three hour glucose tolerance test.
The one hour test involves taking a blood sample after you have fasted and then drinking
a beverage high in glucose and testing your blood again one hour later. With the three
hour version, you proceed the same except the drink has a higher concentration of sugar
and your blood is tested each hour for three hours instead of one. The purpose of these
tests is to see how your body reacts to and process the large amount of sugar in the
drinks.
The American Diabetes Association lists the following blood glucose levels that would
indicate gestational diabetes is present:
*Fasting 95 mg/dl or higher
*One hour 180 mg/dl or higher
*Two hours 155 mg/dl or higher
*Three hours 140 mg/dl or higher
If any two of the above readings come back in the ranges indicated you will be diagnosed
with gestational diabetes. Once you have been diagnosed, you doctor will provide you
with the blood glucose guidelines that should be maintained for the optimal health of you
and your baby. They are:
*First thing in the morning below 95 mg/dl
*One hour after a meal below 140 mg/dl
*Two hours after a meal below 120 mg/dl
There will be occasions when your blood sugar reading is higher than the recommended
range. In that case, adjust your next meal. If you had planned on having a meal that was
higher in carbohydrates it should be changed so that there is more protein. Protein helps
to lower your blood sugar and carbohydrates convert to sugar raising your glucose levels.
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When you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes it is going to be very important to
monitor your blood sugar levels several times per day. You want to ensure you are
remaining within your target range given to you by your doctor. In addition to testing
your blood sugar you will also be testing yourself daily for ketones.
You test for ketones in your urine first thing in the morning with strips from your doctor
or pharmacy. This is the most common method but this can also be done through a blood
test. The presence of ketones in your urine during pregnancy is a signal that you need to
adjust your diet usually it means you are not eating enough or enough of the right kinds
of food.
The presence of ketones signals that your body utilizing energy from your fat stores
instead of from the food that you are eating. This is something you would aim for when
you are trying to loose weight but not when you are pregnant. If you found a low to
medium amount of ketones in your urine after testing in the morning, you should test
again the same day in the evening. If they are still present, contact your doctor. If when
you test there is a high amount of ketones in your urine you should contact your doctor
immediately. If you are unsure it is always best to consult with your doctor.
Once you see your doctor, he or she will review your diet and either help you or refer you
to a dietician to see what dietary changes need to be made. By acting promptly when you
discover ketones in your urine you can prevent the condition of ketoacidosis from
developing. Symptoms of ketoacidosis can include stomach pangs and nausea or
vomiting..
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