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  • TOP 10 WAYS TO COPE WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES

    Everything changes once your doctor says those four little words: “You have gestational diabetes.” It’s normal to feel overwhelmed emotionally as you consider the health of yourself and your baby. All the medical information you have to digest and lifestyle changes you have to make can be mentally overwhelming as well. This list of ways to cope with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) will help you adjust to all the required lifestyle changes.
    1.Gather Information
    One of the best things you can do to help cope with GDM is to gather information. Most women with GDM give birth to normal, healthy babies but in order to have the most positive outcome possible, you need to arm yourself with accurate information. And since more than half of women who have GDM will develop adult diabetes later in life, you are educating yourself now about how to manage diabetes through diet and exercise should you become diabetic in the future.
    2.Check Your Blood Sugar Levels
    An important part of coping with GDM is monitoring your blood sugar levels at home. You should check your blood sugar up to 4 times a day; test before breakfast and again one hour after each meal. If you need insulin shots, you should check your blood sugar up to 6 times a day; test before each meal and one hour after each meal. Even though it’s an inconvenience to test your blood sugar so frequently, it can put your mind at ease to know that your levels are normal.
    3.Monitor Your Urine for Ketones
    Your health care provider will test your urine for the presence of an acid called ketones. If the lab report shows ketones, that indicates that your GDM is not under control.
    4.Get Plenty of Rest
    All pregnant women need lots of rest and women with GDM are no exception. You are doing the important work of growing a baby and it’s normal to feel tired. When you feel fatigue, give yourself permission to rest for a bit. It’s also important to take care of your emotional well-being.
    5.Adopt a Healthy Eating Plan
    Now that you have GDM, it’s more important than ever to give your body the right kind of fuel at the right intervals. You should eat every three to four hours, which will give you a constant supply of energy and help keep your blood sugar level stable. Be sure to include in your diet a bedtime snack. There are general guidelines about eating well while you have GDM, but your health care provider may have you meet with a registered dietitian to create an individualized eating plan. Your dietitian may ask you to keep a food journal and monitor your weight at home. Cooperate with the program and you may be able to manage your GDM without insulin injections. You’ll also feel your best and you’ll have peace of mind, knowing you’re doing all you can to keep your baby—and yourself—healthy.
    6.Get Regular, Moderate Exercise
    Experts recommend at least 2½ hours of moderate exercise every week for women with GDM. Try to break up this time into four or five different work-out sessions, and choose low-impact exercises such as swimming, walking, and fitness classes specifically designed for pregnant women. To help avoid a low blood glucose reaction while exercising, experts recommend eating one serving of fruit (or 15 grams carbohydrate) for moderate exercise that lasts 30 minutes. If you exercise after a meal, eat your fruit after your work-out session; if you exercise 2+ hours after a meal, eat your fruit before your work-out. Remember to talk to your health care provider and obtain his/her permission before beginning an exercise program, particularly if you have never exercised regularly or were not exercising before you became pregnant.
    7.Monitor Your Weight Gain
    Just by changing the way you eat and getting regular exercise, you can keep your blood sugar within a safe range. An added benefit: you’ll be more likely to keep your pregnancy weight gain in check. Talk with your health care provider about how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy and about any concerns you have related to the relationship between weight gain and GDM.
    8.Monitor Fetal Growth and Health
    Living with GDM means that you’ll be making regular visits to your health care provider’s office. Your doctor will want to check your blood pressure, your urine, and your weight. He or she will talk to you about your eating and exercise habits and about monitoring your blood sugar levels. Additional tests your doctor may want to perform include kick counts (to monitor fetal movement), fetal ultrasounds (to monitor your baby’s growth), and nonstress tests (to check how your baby’s heart responds to movement). All of these conversations and tests provide important information about your baby’s development and overall health.
    9.Control High Blood Pressure
    During a routine pregnancy, your blood pressure should be in the range of 110/70. If your blood pressure reaches 140/90, you’re considered to have high blood pressure. You can prevent high blood pressure by controlling your blood sugar level, by reducing the amount of salt in your diet, and by getting regular, moderate exercise every week. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of high blood pressure. If you have any of these symptoms, call your health care provider.
    • Severe headache
    • Fatigue or confusionx
    • Vision problems
    • Chest pain
    • Difficulty breathingx
    • Irregular heartbeat
    • Blood in the urine
    • Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears
    10.Take Insulin Shots, If Necessary
    You may need to take insulin shots if your dietary changes and exercise regimen have not brought your blood sugar levels within normal range. Man-made insulin is currently the medication of choice for treating GDM; insulin will help you lower your blood sugar level without harming your baby. Women who begin taking insulin shots typically start out with a small dose of intermediate-acting and/or regular insulin taken once or twice a day. Your doctor will help you adjust your dosage as your insulin resistance increases. Remember that if you do need to take insulin you should always keep a quick-sugar food (like glucose tablets or hard candy) with you. If you feel like your blood sugar is low, check your blood sugar level and, if necessary, eat your quick-sugar food. This is particularly important to remember when you’re exercising, as exercise lowers your blood sugar.