Gestational diabetes treatments

gestational diabetes treatments

Because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, it is critical to start treatment quickly.

Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels equal to those of pregnant women who don't have gestational diabetes. The treatment always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity, and it may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections.

A healthy diet

Making changes to your diet can help control your blood sugar levels.

You should be referred to a dietitian, who can give you advice about your diet and how to plan healthy meals.

You may be advised to:

eat regularly – usually three meals a day – and avoid skipping meals
eat starchy and low glycaemic index (GI) foods that release sugar slowly – such as wholewheat pasta, brown rice, granary bread, all-bran cereals, pulses, beans, lentils, muesli and plain porridge
eat plenty of fruit and vegetables – aim for at least 5 portions a day
avoid sugary foods – you do not need a completely sugar-free diet, but swap snacks such as cakes and biscuits for healthier alternatives such as fruit, nuts and seeds
avoid sugary drinks – diet or sugar-free drinks are better than sugary versions. Fruit juices and smoothies can also be high in sugar, and so can some "no added sugar" drinks, so check the nutrition label or ask your health care team
eat lean sources of protein, such as fish

It's also important to be aware of foods to avoid during pregnancy, such as certain types of fish and cheese.

Exercise

Regular exercise allows your body to use glucose without extra insulin. This helps combat insulin resistance and is what makes exercise helpful to people with diabetes. However, it is important to check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

Medicine

You may be given medicine if your blood sugar levels are still not well controlled 1 to 2 weeks after changing your diet and exercising regularly, or if your blood sugar level is very high. This may be tablets – usually metformin – or insulin injections.

Your blood sugar levels can increase as your pregnancy progresses, so even if they are well controlled at first, you may need to take medicine later in pregnancy.

You can usually stop taking these medicines after you give birth.

10 common questions about Gestational diabetes treatments

1Can you get rid of gestational diabetes?

The treatment for gestational diabetes depends on your blood glucose levels. In many cases, gestational diabetes can be treated with diet and exercise. In some cases, you'll need to take oral medication such as metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza) or injectable insulin to lower your blood sugar

2How can I control my gestational diabetes?

The best way to manage gestational diabetes is to ensure you have the right lifestyle. That means eating a nutritious diet, monitoring which carbohydrates you consume, controlling your weight gain, and exercising (preferably walking). You may need to monitor your blood glucose levels at home

3Are bananas good for gestational diabetes?

If you are able to eat bananas, it's important to be mindful of the ripeness and size of the banana to reduce its effect on your blood sugar level. Bottom Line: Fruits like bananas are a healthy food that contains fiber, vitamins and minerals. You can include bananas in your diet, even if you have diabetes

4Can my baby die from gestational diabetes?

If untreated, gestational diabetes can cause problems for your baby, like premature birth and stillbirth. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after you have your baby; but if you have it, you're more likely to develop diabetes later in life

5Is gestational diabetes a big deal?

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that you get only when you're pregnant. The word "gestational" means the time when the baby grows in the womb. About 3 to 5 out of every 100 pregnant women have this disease. You can get it even if you didn't have diabetes before your pregnancy

6Can I have a natural birth with gestational diabetes?

Having gestational diabetes does increase your risk of needing a c-section, but most women with the condition are able to have an uncomplicated vaginal birth. ... A newborn is considered LGA if the baby's birth weight is greater than 90 percent of other babies born at the same gestational age

7Does exercise help gestational diabetes?

One way to lower blood glucose levels is to exercise. When we exercise, our muscles take in more glucose. ... The end result is lower blood glucose levels. Along with following a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise is an important part of managing gestational diabetes

8How early do you deliver with gestational diabetes?

Expert recommendations suggest that women with uncomplicated GDM take their pregnancies to term, and deliver at 38 weeks gestation [6]

9Is cucumber good for gestational diabetes?

According to a study published in the journal of Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, type-2 diabetes patients could lower their blood sugar levels by eating cucumber. The nutritious vegetable could help diabetics as it contains high fibre content; fibre is key to lowering blood sugar levels

10Are bananas good for pregnancy?

Bananas are another good source of potassium. They also contain vitamin B-6, vitamin C, and fiber. About half of all women experience constipation during pregnancy

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Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes treatments