Gestational Diabetes Treatment

Gestational diabetes treatment can be complex, confusing and challenging for expecting mother and their physicians. 

Gestational diabetes occurs due to diabetogenic placental hormones that occur during pregnancy. These hormones from the placenta raise blood sugar by making the mother more insulin resistant. It is important for women to know that gestational diabetes can occur even if a she is eating a healthful diet and active. Treatment for gestational diabetes starts with removing the self-blame mother’s often experience when they are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. A supportive approach to care is far better than one that feels like punishment to the patient.

 It is important to reach patients in a way that engages them because high blood sugar during pregnancy can be dangerous, even fatal, for both mother and baby. Gestational diabetes treatment is so important.

The first line of gestational diabetes treatment is lifestyle. Some women are able to control their blood sugar during pregnancy by adhering to a healthful diet and engaging in an exercise routine. 

Unfortunately many women are getting incorrect information on what to eat to improve blood sugar in gestational diabetes. A healthful diet for gestational diabetes treatment is one that is rich in whole grains, fruit, vegetables, beans and lentils. It is a diet that limits highly processed foods like many packaged foods and snacks, foods that are high in added sugar and foods that are high in saturated fat.

During pregnancy, an expecting mother should continue to exercise. She should not significantly intensify her exercise, but she can continue pre-pregnancy exercise levels so long as she can do so without injury. Ligaments relax during pregnancy and there is a shift in balance as the belly grows, so expectant mothers should exercise with caution since risk of injury is higher. Still, it is safe and healthy for pregnant women to exercise as long as they are taking care while they do it.

However, for many women lifestyle interventions are not enough to lower blood sugar to a safe range. Pregnancy requires tighter control of blood sugar, both fasting and blood sugar after meals, for the safety of the developing baby. 

When medications are used for gestational diabetes, treatment can be metformin, glipizide and insulin either by themself or in combination. Gestational diabetes treatment and normalization of blood sugar during pregnancy can prevent miscarriage, large babies, injuries during delivery. Blood sugar treatment is important for both mom and baby’s safety.

Gestational diabetes is important to a woman’s health because it is an opportunity for her to learn about her body and set herself and her baby up for a healthier future. Women with gestational diabetes are seven times as likely to develop type two diabetes later in life. If a woman can make healthful lifestyle changes during her pregnancy and then continue them after delivery, she can prevent herself from getting type two diabetes in the future. Children whose parents adhere to a healthier lifestyle are more likely to grow up eating nutritious foods and staying active. Treatment and education upon diagnosis of gestational diabetes can not only change the trajectory of a woman’s life and health, it can have a positive impact on the health of generations that come after her.