Diabetic Diet Zone

Posts Tagged ‘gestational diabetes’

Jacquie is pregnant with her first child and has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. In this interview she shares her experiences being diagnosed, testing her blood each day and injecting herself with insulin.

Duration : 0:4:59

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Causes of Gestational Diabetes, Diabetes during Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes usually diagnoses or begins during the pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood sugar level that is first recognized during pregnancy. In pregnancy, Glucose Intolerance occurs and it synonymous of gestational diabetes.

The common causes of Gestational Diabetes can be the family history of diabetes, born 9lb baby previously from the same mother, overweight or loss, having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), African or Hispanic origin, obesity, recurrent infections, death of a new born or a mysterious miscarriage. Families originating from certain areas can be at a higher risk. Women from South Asia including India, Pakistan are on risk.

Therefore, women from Middle East including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon or Egypt can also be risk prone of Gestational Diabetes. It is appeared that women possess a certain degree of impaired Glucose Intolerance due to hormonal change during pregnancy; it means the blood sugar is higher than normal but the diabetes is not high. At the third semester, the later part of the pregnancy, these hormonal changes let women fall in risky position for Gestational Diabetes. The high level of certain hormones that prepared in the placenta lets nutrients shift from the mother to the developing fetus. The placenta is the organ that connects the baby to the Uterus by the umbilical cord.

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However, the residual hormones, produced in the Placenta help the mother prevent developing low blood sugar, and insulin stops working. As the pregnancy period continues, these hormones ultimately lead to create impaired Glucose Intolerance, the high blood sugar levels. Decreasing blood sugar levels, the body makes more insulin letting glucose pour into the cells for energy consumption. Pancreas of mothers can be able to produce more insulin that is three times higher than normal amount. The system produces to overcome the effect of the pregnancy hormones at blood sugar levels. When the Pancreas cannot produce insulin enough to overcome the effect of the increased hormones in pregnancy time, the blood sugar levels will rise, and it results Gestational Diabetes.

Further, Gestational Diabetes of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, GDM is a condition when pregnant women exhibit high blood pressure without diagnosing diabetes before.

The symptoms of Gestational Diabetes are being screened during the pregnancy period. The diagnostics tests detect the inappropriateness of high levels of glucose in blood samples. Gestational Diabetics affect 3% to 10% pregnancies based on population studies. Some studies reveal that the lack of resistance of women body on insulin production results impaired Glucose Tolerance relating to hormones levels.

The mothers with Gestational Diabetics give the birth of babies bearing typical problems. It can be delivery complication, low blood sugar and jaundice. Control of glucose levels can decrease the level.

Women who are bearing Gestational Diabetics are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetics or latent autoimmune diabetes, type 1 after the pregnancy. The children are to be childhood obesity prone and type 2 diabetics are at later stage of life. Patients usually take moderated diet, exercises or insulin. Regular exercise and herbal remedies are very effective in this condition.

Related Diabetes And Pregnancy Articles

I’ve been doing so well with this gestational diabetes diet that I’ve grown a little bored testing. But today (I’m 36 weeks and two days pregnant), I had a small lunch OUT at a restaurant, where I didn’t really know exactly how many carbs I consumed. Probably too many carbs and not enough protein. My one-hour-post-lunch test is supposed to be less than 140, per my doctor, but it came back high: 159. Opps. So I had a bad lunch after all. But after two hours, I tested again, and it was 175! 120, I am told, is what the max should be after two hours. What should my level be after three hours? Everything I find online gives the levels for the three-hour glucose screening test. This is just a regular after-meal test, three hours later instead of one or two.

I failed my glucose screening test primarily because my sugar after two hours went higher when it should have gone lower. But I don’t want to have my afternoon snack before my blood sugar comes back to a level where it should.

Gestational diabetes is a form of Type II Noninsulin Dependent Diabetes, which is a risk factor for the development of diabetes in the nongestational state.

Gestational diabetes is associated with a number of pregnancy and newborn problems and complications the most common being excess weight gain by the mother and the delivery of a newborn who is heavier/larger than would be otherwise expected.

Your blood glucose level 3 or more hours after any meal should be close to that of a fasting level which is in the 75-125 mg/dl range. A single reading of 159 or even 175, if your other glucose readings are in the range I quoted, is not something to worry about. The effects of diabetes are due to prolonged exposure to elevated blood glucose levels.

Review your dietary recommendations as your glucose level at any point in time is due to three factors:

1. Your total recent caloric intake (not the proportions of carbohydrates, protein and fats).
2. Your recent energy expenditure (exercise!).
3. Any medication you may have taken for diabetes.

While overall the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat is very important in the control of diabetes all of these food sources will raise your blood glucose (not gram for gram equally). Testing your glucose at one and two hours after eating is going to provide you with confusing results due to the unpredictability of pancreatic insulin release after eating a given meal, your state of hydration, hepatic glycogenolysis (glucose release from liver stores), the rate of absorption of nutrients from your intestines, the degree of insulin resistance you have (the primary cause of Type II Diabetes) amongst several other factors.

Your goals are to:

1. Follow closely the total daily caloric intake recommended by your physician which should take into account the additional needs of the growing fetus.
2. Follow closely the physician-recommended levels of exercise (even daily walks) which will act to keep your glucose down.
3. The proportion and types of carbohydrates, protein and fat you are eating as recommended by your physician.
4. The times you are to measure your glucose.

Remember, it is not a single glucose reading that is important but it is the trend of readings which determine glucose control. Also, be sure to keep a check on your glucose level long after you delivery your baby as Gestational Diabetes is a risk factor for development of Adult Onset Diabetes.

The following link is an excellent resource with other important links for Gestational Diabetes. It is by the American Diabetes Association:

http://diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp.

Congratulations and Good Luck with your newborn!

DrEarp

This is so confusing. I need to know if this is alright. I just started my gestational diabetes low-carb diet. My three meals a day range from 30-45g of carbs while my three snacks range from 15-30g of carbs. I don’t want to keep eating just turkey sandwiches and fruits and vegetables. Would it be ok if I ate the following, as long as it is within carbohydrate guidelines?

For example ..
(3) chicken strips from Sheetz w/ nacho cheese – 26g carbs, no sugar
Grilled chicken wrap from Sheetz w/ cheddar cheese, cooked peppers & onions, bacon, & tomatoes – 31g carbs, 3g sugars
McChicken from McDonald’s w/o the bun, mayo, & lettuce (just the plain chicken patty) – 10g carbs

Can I eat this stuff (obviously not at the same meal or anything) since it’s within the carb guidelines I am supposed to follow?

Also .. some more examples .. not that I want to eat this stuff daily or anything, just using these as examples ..
Low Carb Options (each under 10g* of carbs):
• Low Carb WHOPPER® Sandwich* • (3g)
• Low Carb WHOPPER® Sandwich w/ cheese* • (5g)
• Low Carb DOUBLE WHOPPER® Sandwich* • (3g)
• Low Carb DOUBLE WHOPPER® Sandwich w/ cheese* • (5g)
• Low Carb WHOPPER JR.® Sandwich* • (1g)
• Low Carb WHOPPER JR.® Sandwich w/ cheese* • (2g)
• Low Carb BK™ Double Stacker Sandwich* (5g)
• Low Carb BK™ Triple Stacker Sandwich* (6g)
• Low Carb BK™ Quad Stacker Sandwich* (6g)
** ALL WITHOUT THE BUN **

My numbers weren’t that bad they said, they didn’t give me exacts though, I’m going to ask them next time I go in. I’m not asking you to verify if my diet is good — I just want to know if I am counting carbs for a diabetic diet could I eat this stuff since the carbs are within guidelines? Obviously not for every meal every day, but maybe one meal a week or something like that.

Just to add — my levels today were -
Fasting – 81
1 hour after breakfast – 103
1 hour after lunch – 105
(didn’t have dinner yet .. and YES my doctor has me monitor ONE hour after a meal, not two!)
ok no need to lecture me on fast food alright i believe i clearly stated above that i do not eat this every day nor do i have any intentions on it i was just asking a simple question

I had gestational 3 years ago…
my numbers werent that bad either…..I only had to do diet as do u.
I would eat from Wendy’s a child’s meal and a side salad almost daily for lunch and I was fine…..
Actually the nutritionist had me try this and it worked fine….and sometimes I would sneak in a half of a choc chip muffin and it was still fine.
Take Care and good luck.
Sounds like ur doing great.
Machelle

Symptoms and Treatments of Gestational Diabetes and its effects on pregnancy

The condition which develops in a pregnant woman due to a large amount of sugar in her blood is known as gestational diabetes. Though it usually resolves itself after the delivery, it needs to be controlled for the proper health of the baby. When the pancreas isn’t able to produce enough insulin to regulate the excess sugar in the blood, gestational diabetes sets in. This usually happens in the later stages of pregnancy. Doctors usually suggest a series of tests if sugar is found in the urine during the antenatal check of the pregnant woman. The tests include random blood glucose test and glucose tolerance test.

Effects on pregnancy –
If the diabetes is controlled carefully, its ill-effects are minimized. The large amount of sugar in the blood can cross the placenta to the baby resulting in an abnormally large growth of the baby. Larger babies make the labor and the delivery difficult which increases the need for a caesarean section and it has its own cons.

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Who is at risk?
Women suffering from gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies or who have given birth to large babies have high chances of developing it.

What are the symptoms?
Extreme thirst or abnormal fatigue is a sign of gestational diabetes but it is very difficult to detect gestational diabetes without a test. It is usually caught by the doctor during the regular antenatal check up.

Treatment –
Doctors would advise to cut down on sugar food and caffeinated drinks. Coffee and Cola are a strict no during gestational diabetes. Large meals are to be avoided and substituted by small snacks at frequent intervals. In extreme cases, insulin injections are prescribed.
Gestational diabetes calls for frequent ultrasound scans to keep a close check on the baby. It would be wise to keep a glucometer handy for monitoring the blood sugar level after every meal which would help the doctor to give better advice.

Exercise is the key –
Right amount of the suitable exercise during pregnancy helps in controlling gestational diabetes. The doctor can give tips to include exercise in daily activities. Exercising before pregnancy also helps in lowering the chances of developing gestational diabetes.

Pregnancy of a diabetic woman –
If a woman is diabetic, she should get her blood sugar level under control before conceiving. It is the same for overweight women. They should reduce their weight and check their blood sugar level before conceiving. The proper development of the baby is at risk if the blood sugar level is not under control in the initial stages of pregnancy. Though the pregnancy of a pregnant woman is considered high-risk, the problems can be avoided if the blood-sugar level is kept close to normal.

Post pregnancy diabetes –
Gestational diabetes gets normal within few hours post-delivery. The doctor would keep a check on the blood sugar level and a glucose tolerance test is advisable 3 months post-delivery. The chances of gestational diabetes getting resolved naturally are very high but some women suffering from obesity remain diabetic.

More Gestational Diabetes Articles

I am 15 weeks along with baby #2, had gestational diabetes with baby #1 so my OB has me doing fingersticks 2 hours after meals and on a diabetic diet.The interesting thing is my sugar is good upon waking in the AM,but after breakfast is sorta high some days.But anytime afternoon or dinner time,I can eat anything and my sugar is totally within normal range.Anyone else understand this whole thing?
Thanks in advance.

I too have GD and was informed that stress and hormones play a huge role in your sugar levels, even if you eat the same things every day.
I would never profess to to understand my hormones

I went to the doctor wednesday and my blood sugar was elevated. They put me on a 2200 calorie diabetic diet. Is it really dangerous? And how important is it to follow this diet all the time. Like if im going out to eat and can’t follow it completely is it okay? And can I have some sugar or none at all? Im a lil confused as to what all this is. I didn’t have it with my first daughter. Any advice will help. Thanks in advance.
They didn’t tell me to check my sugar at all. They just put me on the diet.

Stick to the diet as much as possible. If you’re eating out, look for salads + protein and pick a non-sugary dressing. Or go for something that has a lot of protein and avoid the carbs. So like you could order a steak, but ask them to substitute steamed vegetables for the potato that comes with it.

It’s not just avoiding sugar, it’s avoiding simple carbohydrates. White rice, white bread, potatoes, juices, soda – avoid all of that. That’s easy to do at home. Eating out takes some thinking but it doable. Look up the menu online before you go and plan out what will work so you don’t feel pressured at the restaurant.

This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to gestational diabetes (also Glucose intolerance during pregnancy; Glucose intolerance of pregnancy), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on gestational diabetes. Given patients’ increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms.

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A Short Quiz on Pregnancy Diabetes Diet

If you are wondering how a pregnancy diabetes diet can be effective and work for you, then try to read these quick facts about the topic. Gestational diabetes occurs only during a woman’s pregnancy and usually goes away after giving birth. It occurs when there is not enough insulin for the body’s release of glucose (energy source) to the other cells in the body.

True or False? A pregnancy diabetes diet does not help in giving birth to a healthy child.

False. A proper diet can help women with gestational diabetes give birth to a healthy child, as had been the usual case to various women who have experienced it. This is because a proper diet can help in stabilizing the levels of glucose in the blood, and thus helps in avoiding complications. It can also help maintain a healthy weight that is good for the body.

True or False? Women with gestational diabetes need to eat three meals per day and at least two snacks.

True. People with diabetes generally have to eat about five or six times per day in order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. You should never skip a meal if you have gestational diabetes. This daily routine helps in spreading glucose evenly.

True or False? Women with gestational diabetes should not eat sweet foods at all.

False. Even if you have gestational diabetes, you can still eat sweet foods especially in the form of fruits. Just make sure that you are able to control your intake and that you are within the prescribed limit.

True or False? Women with gestational diabetes and who experience morning sickness cannot do anything about it.

False. Pregnant women with diabetes can do something about morning sickness. Before getting out of bed, eat some pretzels or crackers. A serving or two will do.

True or False? A diet for women with gestational diabetes should be composed of carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

A pregnancy diabetes diet should contain a healthy combination of the three food groups and must ensure that the patient is able to have the required amount of vitamins and nutrients per day.