Do you have
gestational diabetes? You are not sure how to keep it in control? Ask me, I will tell you my experience with it and
how did I manage to have a Normal Delivery.
Do you have any family
history of diabetes? If you have, there are more chances for you to get
gestational diabetes.
My mom has Diabetes
and my gynecologist told me to keep in check of my sugar levels during
pregnancy since I have more chances of getting gestational diabetes than
someone without any family history. Even though my sugar levels were in
control, it was on a higher side during my first test itself. But I was
confident that it will be in control since I don’t eat sweets much. But still I
avoided sugar completely.
In India you get
pregnant means there will be a sweet shop in your house next day. All your
relatives and friends will come with those deep fried items. But I would agree
that things are getting changed as well. Now a day’s people also come with real
nutritious items. My relatives and friends were also not different; some of
them bought those traditional sweets and snacks while some of them bought
fruits and nuts and so on.
Whatever I liked I ate,
just avoiding sugar in my milk. Third month my gynecologist asked me to take
the blood tests again. This time it was not below the margin but above. I
didn’t know what to do, and trust me the moment I found that my sugar levels
are high I felt like eating sweets.
Doctor gave me 15 days
and suggested to reduce my sugar intake and get the sugar levels in control.
Doctor also warned me that as the pregnancy progress sugar levels will go
higher. I was already controlling my sugar intake. How could I reduce my blood
sugar now? BS and I got so worried; we knew the complications which might occur
if the sugar levels are not controlled.
After 15 days we
checked our sugar levels again and still it’s above the margin! That’s when our
Gynecologist suggested us to consult a diabetes doctor. We met her the next day
itself and she has helped me to keep my sugar levels in control.
Continue reading to
know more about Gestational diabetes and what I followed to keep my blood sugar
levels in control and have a normal delivery.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes
is a condition where you have too much sugar (Glucose) in your blood during
pregnancy.
This happens when your
body is not producing enough of a hormone called Insulin which helps the
muscles and tissues in your body to use blood sugar for energy and to store any
blood sugar that is not needed.
While you are pregnant
your body has to make extra insulin because hormones from the placenta make
your body to less responsive to it. If your body can’t meet this extra demand
your blood sugar levels will rise and you may develop gestational diabetes.
Having too much sugar in your blood is not good for you and the baby. So we
have to be extra careful.
How ill my diabetes affect my unborn baby?
If your sugar levels
are not controlled it will cross the placenta to your baby. This would create a
small risk of hi/her growing larger than normal.
A big baby can make
labour and birth more difficult, increasing the risk of serious birth problems.
Babies born to mums
with diabetes are also more prone to obesity and type2 diabetes later in life.
But most of the times
the baby will be healthy because it is spotted and treated.
My routine to have the sugar levels in control.
I was able to control
my gestational diabetes by eating healthy and exercising.
·
Half an
hour walk in morning and evening.
·
Distribute
your food intake between three meals and two snacks each day
·
Make sure
you eat a Healthy breakfast
·
Eat
reasonable portions of starch
·
Include
whole grain varieties in your diet.
·
Your food
should be high in complex carbohydrates and low in saturated fat.
·
Avoid
added sugars.
·
Avoid
fruit Juices
·
Eat plenty
of high fiber food
o
Fresh
fruits and vegetables but limit fruit portions
o
wholegrain
breads and cereals
·
Do not
skip meals
My daily routine:
6:00am–One glass of
milk with a small size fruit
6:30am–half an hour
walking
8.00am–Breakfast
cereals including fruits
10.30am–salad with
vegetables and fruits
1.00pm-Lunch
3.30pm–Small size
fruit
5.30pm–Tea with snack
7.30pm–Dinner
9.30pm-Small size
fruit
Foods to Avoid:
White Flour
Processed grains
Cereals with lots
of sugar
White bread
Canned vegetables
Pickles
Canned fruits
Fruit drinks and
juices
Fried items
Fruits like Banana,
Grapes, and Sapodilla
If diet and
exercise aren't enough to keep you well, you may need to take medication to
control your blood sugar levels or to inject insulin.
Following a healthy
diet and exercise helped me to keep my sugar levels in control. I had a normal
delivery and my baby’s weight was normal.
Most of the cases
Gestational diabetes will go away post-delivery. I am lucky that it’s the same
for me as well.
Images from :
www.google.com
Original post appeared in https://divsmoments.wordpress.com/
