Tips for Coping with Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a woman who has never suffered from diabetes before develops the condition during pregnancy. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 4 percent of all pregnant women will develop this condition, which equals out to around 135,000 cases annually. Just like with other types of diabetes, the causes of diabetes development during pregnancy are not fully understood. Experts believe that hormones produced during gestation cause insulin resistance.

When insulin resistance occurs, the pregnant woman's body is unable to use glucose effectively. It builds up and manifests as hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Not only is this unhealthy for the mother, it is unhealthy for the unborn baby as well. Diabetes during pregnancy causes an unborn baby to receive more energy than they can use. This energy is stored as fat, which can cause macrosomia. Macrosomia means that the unborn baby is too large. This can lead to shoulder damage during birth, respiratory problems and even obesity issues later in life.

Most of the time, diabetes during pregnancy can be effectively managed with diet and exercise. If you're too heavy, your doctor may advise you to reduce your food intake or change the types of foods you are eating. You may also be directed to consume small portions of healthy foods at regular intervals throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels steady. It's a good idea to meet with a nutrition counselor, who can create the ideal diet plan to help you manage your condition. Your doctor may also recommend certain types of physical exercises suitable for pregnant women. Never start any kind of diet or exercise program without consulting with your doctor first.

Testing your own blood sugar on a regular basis may be required for moderate to severe cases of gestational diabetes. This can be done in minutes with a diabetes testing kit. Today's kits are easy to use and some even provide digital readouts for guess proof results. Your doctor will teach you the proper way to use a testing kit. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, proper diet and the right amount of exercise can go a long way towards reducing the risks of diabetes during pregnancy. Not only that, but managing your diabetes effectively while pregnant can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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