10/11/2012

Gestational diabetes or high blood glucose levels in pregnant women who normally exhibit no signs of diabetes, is thought to affect 3% to 10% of pregnancies, especially during the third trimester. Women who are more susceptible are over 35 years old, being overweight, and certain ethnic backgrounds, such as African-American, Native American and Hispanic. It rarely exhibits symptoms, and is usually diagnosed in the medical screening stages of the pregnancy. As we will point out, there could be issues with the child and mother, and it can be treated.



All this happens because glucose is in your blood and has to get into the cells of the body. To do this the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin and dumps it into the bloodstream to allow the glucose to penetrate the cell walls. People with diabetes either don't produce enough insulin, or the cells have an inability to use it. In either case, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, causing high blood sugar, or diabetes.



Gestational diabetes can affect either the mother or the baby if it is not treated. At birth the child could have low blood sugar levels, jaundice, or weigh more than usual. If the baby is too large for normal birth, a cesarean section may be necessary. For the mother, there is a risk of developing preeclampsia from half way into the pregnancy to up to six weeks after birth. This will cause elevated blood pressure, but also could result in damage to the liver and kidneys.



Many women who experience gestational diabetes, provided they stick to a treatment plan, will have healthy pregnancies for themselves and their babies. Some of the points to this plan will be:



1. Keep a daily record of their blood sugar numbers, and track as well as possible what for them may aggravate the problem. Then of course avoid this in your diet. These tests may have to be done several times a day.



2. Eat a healthy diet, especially avoiding high carb foods. Carbohydrates and sugars will affect blood sugar levels, so should be eliminated from the diet as much as possible.



3. Maintain a regular, if moderate workout routine. Exercise will help control blood sugar levels, as well as help you maintain a healthy weight.



4. Finally, through diet and exercise maintain your weight, as this is one of the main precursors of gestational diabetes. As mentioned before, obesity will dramatically increase the chance of a person developing diabetes, not only a woman in pregnancy but for the general population.



Insulin may also be needed by some women to manage their blood sugar levels. After the pregnancy is finished, most women return to normal, but their children maintain a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity for the rest of their lives.



Most of the meal delivery plans provide a ready-made diet plan for people with diabetes. Our page on diabetic meal plans explains factors that diabetics must cope with, and how they can go about finding a plan that will safely fulfill their dietary needs. The cost isn't very high, and a diabetic can get three meals a day seven days a week delivered to them, put together by registered dieticians. It is really a no-brainer for making certain the diet portion of your agenda is met.
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