Treatment for Gestational Diabetes

For the proper treatment of gestational diabetes, it is important for the patient to control and monitor her blood sugar levels. This is also important to ensure the well-being of the developing baby. The various treatments for gestational diabetes include:

Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels: Doctors usually recommend checking blood sugar levels at least 4-5 times everyday, preferably first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and after every meal. Patients can easily check their blood sugar levels with the help of diabetes testing kits available commercially.

Furthermore, doctors also monitor the patient’s blood sugar levels during labor and delivery. If the blood sugar levels are high, there is a high chance that your baby may have low blood sugar immediately after birth. After delivery, follow up testing is equally important to reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Work closely with your doctor to ensure normal blood sugar levels and to avoid other complications.

Diet: A healthy daily diet is one of the best ways to control and maintain normal blood sugar levels. Losing weight after pregnancy is equally important to reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus and your can accomplish this with the help of dietary changes and exercise. Concentrate on eating fresh fruits and vegetables as opposed to refined carbohydrates and fatty foods. Foods which are low in calories and fats but high in nutrition and fiber are very effective in lowering the risk of diabetes after childbirth. Your doctor or dietician can help you formulate a diet plan that suits the needs of your body.

Exercise: Regular exercise is important before, during, and after pregnancy. It only helps you stay fit and active but also lowers the risk of postnatal diabetes. Your doctor is the best person to advise you about what exercises you should or should not be doing during and after pregnancy.

Medications: Some women may even need insulin injections to keep a check on their blood sugar levels. Doctors may prescribe either injections or oral medications for the treatment of gestational diabetes.

Monitoring the Baby: Apart from your own treatment, it is also important to monitor the health of your developing baby. Regular ultrasounds and fetal heartbeat testing play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of your unborn child.

References

Nian Wang, DeLing Zhang, XianQing Mao, Feng Zou, Huan Jin, JingPing Ouyang, Astragalus polysaccharides decreased the expression of PTP1B through relieving ER stress induced activation of ATF6 in a rat model of type 2 diabetes, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Volume 307, Issues 1–2, 13 August 2009, Pages 89-98, ISSN 0303-7207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2009.03.001.
Ajaya K. Shetty, Paramahans V. Salimath, Reno-protective effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum greacum) during experimental diabetes, e-SPEN, the European e-Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2009, Pages e137-e142, ISSN 1751-4991, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eclnm.2009.02.002.