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Gestational diabetes during pregnancy -

You should give birth at a hospital where specially trained health care professionals are available to provide appropriate care for your baby. When you go into hospital to give birth, take your blood sugar testing kit with you, plus any medicines you're taking.

Usually you should keep testing your blood sugar and taking your medicines until you're in established labour or you're told to stop eating before a caesarean section. During labour and delivery, your blood sugar will be monitored and kept under control. You may need to have insulin given to you through a drip, to control your blood sugar levels.

You can usually see, hold and feed your baby soon after you've given birth. It's important to feed your baby as soon as possible after birth within 30 minutes and then at frequent intervals every hours until your baby's blood sugar levels are stable.

Your baby's blood sugar level will be tested starting 2 to 4 hours after birth. If it's low, your baby may need to be temporarily fed through a tube or a drip.

If your baby is unwell or needs close monitoring, they may be looked after in a specialist neonatal unit. Any medicines you were taking to control your blood sugar will usually be stopped after you give birth.

You'll usually be advised to keep checking your blood sugar for 1 or 2 days after you give birth. If you're both well, you and your baby will normally be able to go home after 24 hours.

You should have a blood test to check for diabetes 6 to 13 weeks after giving birth. This is because a small number of women with gestational diabetes continue to have raised blood sugar after pregnancy.

If the result is normal, you'll usually be advised to have an annual test for diabetes. This is because you're at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes — a lifelong type of diabetes — if you've had gestational diabetes. This video gives advice about gestational diabetes and Kimberly talks about her pregnancy after being diagnosed.

Page last reviewed: 08 December Next review due: 08 December Home Health A to Z Gestational diabetes Back to Gestational diabetes. Treatment - Gestational diabetes Contents Overview Treatment.

Checking your blood sugar level You'll be given a testing kit that you can use to check your blood sugar glucose level. Diabetes UK has more information about checking your blood sugar levels A healthy diet Making changes to your diet can help control your blood sugar levels.

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.

See "Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed Beyond the Basics ". However, your doctor may check your blood sugar level the day after delivery to be sure that it is normal or near normal. Pregnancy itself does not increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

However, having gestational diabetes does increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. After you deliver, you should have testing for type 2 diabetes. Typically, this is done between 4 and 12 weeks postpartum, ideally prior to your postpartum check-up.

But it may be done in the hospital before you are discharged. Testing usually includes a two-hour glucose tolerance test GTT so that you are tested for both pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Risk of recurrent gestational diabetes — One-third to two-thirds of individuals who have gestational diabetes in one pregnancy will have it again in a later pregnancy.

If you are overweight or obese, weight reduction through diet and exercise can reduce this risk. Risk of developing type 2 diabetes — Individuals with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, especially if they have other risk factors eg, family history of type 2 diabetes.

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is greatly affected by body weight. Individuals with obesity have a 50 to 75 percent risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while this risk is less-than percent in those who are a normal weight.

If you are overweight or obese, you can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by losing weight and exercising regularly. The American Diabetes Association ADA recommends that all persons with a history of gestational diabetes have testing for type 2 diabetes every one to three years after their initial post-pregnancy test for diabetes.

If you have elevations in your blood sugars in the pre-diabetes range at the time of your postpartum screening, the ADA recommends testing yearly testing. It is also recommended that you work with your primary care provider to eat a healthy diet, lose any excess weight, and exercise regularly to help decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease — Individuals who have had gestational diabetes in the past are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. While this is mostly tied to the risk of type 2 diabetes see above , even those who do not develop type 2 diabetes appear to have a small increase in their risk of heart disease later in life.

Continuing to make healthy lifestyle choices such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking can help minimize this risk. See "Patient education: Diet and health The Basics ". Birth control — Individuals with a history of gestational diabetes can use any type of birth control after pregnancy.

A review of all of the birth control options is available separately. See "Patient education: Birth control; which method is right for me? Beyond the Basics ". Your health care provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.

This article will be updated as needed on our web site www. Related topics for patients, as well as selected articles written for health care professionals, are also available. Some of the most relevant are listed below. Patient level information — UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials.

The Basics — The Basics patient education pieces answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition.

These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials. Patient education: Gestational diabetes The Basics.

Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

Patient education: Preeclampsia Beyond the Basics Patient education: Glucose monitoring in diabetes Beyond the Basics Patient education: Type 2 diabetes: Insulin treatment Beyond the Basics Patient education: Postterm pregnancy Beyond the Basics Patient education: C-section cesarean delivery Beyond the Basics Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed Beyond the Basics Patient education: Birth control; which method is right for me?

Beyond the Basics. Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings.

These articles are thorough, long, and complex, and they contain multiple references to the research on which they are based. Professional level articles are best for people who are comfortable with a lot of medical terminology and who want to read the same materials their doctors are reading.

Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and initial evaluation of diabetes mellitus in adults Effects of advanced maternal age on pregnancy Infants of mothers with diabetes IMD Pregestational preexisting diabetes mellitus: Obstetric issues and management Gestational diabetes mellitus: Screening, diagnosis, and prevention Gestational diabetes mellitus: Glucose management and maternal prognosis Gestational diabetes mellitus: Obstetric issues and management Pregestational preexisting and gestational diabetes: Intrapartum and postpartum glucose management.

htm , available in Spanish. The editorial staff at UpToDate would like to acknowledge Donald R Coustan, MD, and Michael F Greene, MD, who contributed to earlier versions of this topic review. Contributor disclosures are reviewed for conflicts of interest by the editorial group. When found, these are addressed by vetting through a multi-level review process, and through requirements for references to be provided to support the content.

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View Topic Loading Font Size Small Normal Large. Patient education: Gestational diabetes Beyond the Basics. Formulary drug information for this topic. No drug references linked in this topic. Find in topic Formulary Print Share. Official reprint from UpToDate ® www.

com © UpToDate, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Author: Celeste Durnwald, MD Section Editors: David M Nathan, MD Erika F Werner, MD, MS Deputy Editor: Vanessa A Barss, MD, FACOG.

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. Literature review current through: Jan This topic last updated: Nov 16, If your blood sugar level is normal, no other tests are done.

AFTER-DELIVERY CARE After giving birth, most individuals with gestational diabetes have normal blood sugar levels and do not require further treatment with insulin.

Patient education: Gestational diabetes The Basics Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. Beyond the Basics Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings.

Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and initial evaluation of diabetes mellitus in adults Effects of advanced maternal age on pregnancy Infants of mothers with diabetes IMD Pregestational preexisting diabetes mellitus: Obstetric issues and management Gestational diabetes mellitus: Screening, diagnosis, and prevention Gestational diabetes mellitus: Glucose management and maternal prognosis Gestational diabetes mellitus: Obstetric issues and management Pregestational preexisting and gestational diabetes: Intrapartum and postpartum glucose management The following organizations also provide reliable health information.

Effect of treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus on pregnancy outcomes. Exercise is critical as well. Use our resources as well to stay in touch with ideas for daily activity.

The important thing to remember is to take action as quickly as you can, to stay with it, and to stay on top of your condition. Women with a history of gestational diabetes have an increased risk for recurrent diabetes in subsequent pregnancies and a fold risk of developing type 2 diabetes as they age compared to women without gestational diabetes.

Learn More. Breadcrumb Home About Diabetes Gestational Diabetes. Gestational Diabetes. Up to 10 percent of pregnancies in the U. are affected by gestational diabetes every year. How You Can Treat It The key is to act quickly.

Lregnancy is a condition in Gestational diabetes during pregnancy vuring body can't make enough insulin, or can't use insulin normally. Insulin is Precision and Technique Coaching hormone. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy prregnancy sugar glucose in the blood get into cells of the body to be used as fuel. This leads to high blood sugar hyperglycemia. High blood sugar can cause problems all over the body. It can damage blood vessels and nerves. It can harm the eyes, kidneys, and heart. It means Fuel Expense Tracking, by working with your doctor, you can have a Gestational diabetes during pregnancy pregnancy Gestational diabetes during pregnancy durin healthy baby. Diahetes matter what, you Gestationa, all the support you need for both you and your baby. But we know that you are not alone. It happens to millions of women. We do know that the placenta supports the baby as it grows. And this means that she may need up to three times as much insulin to compensate.

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