Gestational Diabetes Treatment: A Complete Guide
Treatment for gestational diabetes can often manage glucose levels and prevent complications. Lifestyle approaches and glucose monitoring are the main option, but some people may need medication.
It is essential to follow the plan you make with your healthcare team. Not doing so can increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Managing gestational diabetes can help prevent these issues. Always speak with your healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any treatment for gestational diabetes.
Here, we look at the options for treating gestational diabetes. For a complete guide to gestational diabetes, see our dedicated article here.
The first-line treatments for gestational diabetes are nonpharmacological, including diet, exercise, and glucose monitoring.
Getting the right nutrients is essential for you and your growing baby during pregnancy, but you’ll have to take extra care to stay healthy if you have gestational diabetes.
You’ll need a balance of macronutrients:
You’ll also need a balance of micronutrients:
Your dietitian can help you balance these nutrients. Experts advise eating three small to moderate meals daily, plus two to three snacks. They may recommend having one of these snacks at bedtime, to prevent ketosis.
The balance of nutrients may vary during the day. Breakfast, for instance, may need to be lowest on carbohydrates, as your carb intolerance may be worst just after waking up.
Your dietitian will help you make an eating plan based on your needs and a gestational diabetes–friendly diet.
Click here for some tips on foods to eat and avoid when dealing with gestational diabetes.
Your dietitian will also work with you to help minimize your weight gain.
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can increase your risk of:
Exercise can help people manage weight gain and blood sugar. Most people will benefit from regular exercise during pregnancy.
Always check with your doctor before starting or changing your exercise plan during pregnancy.
Suitable activities include:
Here are some tips to bear in mind:
There may be special pregnancy exercise classes in your area. Ask your healthcare team if they can recommend something suitable.
You can also try this pregnancy strength workout.
Your doctor may ask you to monitor your glucose levels with a continuous glucose monitor or with a finger-stick monitor.
It’s a good idea to keep a log of your readings to show the doctor and track any developments. Your doctor may need to adjust your targets or treatment over time, and your log will help.
Your doctor may prescribe medication if you follow your diet and exercise plan and your glucose levels are still high after 10 to 14 days.
Here are some options.
If you need medication, insulin is suitable during pregnancy, as it can’t cross the placenta. This means it will not directly affect the fetus.
Your doctor will calculate the amount of insulin you need based on your weight and how many weeks you are pregnant.
They will likely give you a daily dose, divided as follows:
Options include metformin (Fortamet) and sulfonylureas, such as glyburide (Micronase). However, these are not usually the first options, as they can pass the placenta and reach the fetus.
Surgery is not a treatment option for gestational diabetes, but gestational diabetes can increase the likelihood that you’ll need a cesarean delivery, or C-section.
The reason for the increased risk of C-section is because high blood sugar levels can result in “overfeeding” of the fetus, which may mean you will have a larger baby.
Gestational diabetes starts during pregnancy and often goes away afterward. However, the condition is linked to complications that can linger after delivery.
Anyone can develop postpartum depression, or the “baby blues,” after delivery, but having gestational diabetes may increase the risk.
Doctors don’t know exactly why this happens, whether it’s a physical reaction, a mental health issue, or due to the stress of having and managing diabetes while pregnant.
For some, however, it doesn’t go away but changes into type 2 diabetes. If this happens, you’ll need to work with your doctor on managing this condition.
Having gestational diabetes also means that you will have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Experts recommend testing 6 to 12 weeks after delivering and then every one to three years. Your doctor can advise you about how often to test.
They include:
Always check with your doctor before using complementary therapies, as some herbs and other treatments can have unwanted effects.
Your doctor can also recommend counseling services and other options if you experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges during pregnancy.
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