What is Gestational Diabetes? And How Can You Prevent it?

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition in which your blood glucose levels rise during pregnancy. It means your body can not make enough insulin or can not make use of the one already produced. Every pregnant woman needs to get monitored for it. Gestational diabetes should be treated as soon as possible, as it can cause harm to the mother and her child. The mother having gestational diabetes may have a child with a bigger size. Also, it increases the risk of type II diabetes up to 7 times. 

What are the signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes?

The signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes may include blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, extreme thirst, repeated urinary tract infections, sugar in the urine, a sugary smell in urine, and frequent urination. If you are pregnant and you have the same complaints, visit a top gynecologist in Lahore soon. Do not prolong your symptoms, as doing that can be bad for you and your child’s health.

What are the risk factors for gestational diabetes?

The risk factors for gestational diabetes may include:

Being overweight

Having twins or triplets

Having gestational diabetes in the last pregnancy

Age over 25

High dose corticosteroids use for long term

Conditions that can cause insulin resistance like polycystic ovarian syndrome

Gaining a lot of weight during pregnancy

Having a family history of type II diabetes

Having high blood pressure before pregnancy

How can you prevent gestational diabetes?

As such, gestational diabetes is not preventable. But lifestyle modifications may help in lowering the risk of it. Some of the tips that can help in its prevention are:

Prepare yourself for pregnancy on a healthy weight.

If you want to conceive, make sure you are not overweight or obese, as it increases the risk of getting gestational diabetes. Before conception, shed some pounds and maintain a healthy weight. 

However, do not try to lose weight during pregnancy. Always consult with your healthcare provider about it.

If you are struggling to lose weight, the following tips can help you in doing that.

• Eat small frequent meals. It helps prevent overeating that occurs due to starvation.
• Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. It will also help in consuming enough fiber, which in turn helps in losing weight.
• Keep an eye on what you are eating. Also, calculate your calories.
• Drink lots of water.
• Avoid drinking carbonated drinks that are rich in sugar. Also, avoid eating processed foods.
• Eat a diet rich in protein as it keeps you full for a longer time and helps in building muscles.

Exercise 

No matter if you have a healthy weight according to your body mass index, exercise should be a must in your routine. Physical activity plays a role in preventing gestational diabetes. You must do physical activity before and after pregnancy, both. It not only helps you in keeping yourself functional and healthy. But it also helps in preventing gestational diabetes because it sensitizes your receptors to insulin your body has produced. 

For physical activity, you can incorporate activities like yoga, cycling, jogging, or swimming. Also, take the stairs instead of elevators. Park your car farther to the place you want to go and walk to it. However, it is necessary that before doing any workout or physical activity, you ask your healthcare provider about it.

Eat clean and healthy.

During, before, and after pregnancy, you must eat clean and healthy. A diet that contains a high amount of sugars in the form of cakes, chocolates, icecreams, carbonated drinks, and desserts, can increase the risk of diabetes. 

During pregnancy, it is difficult to eat a balanced diet due to nausea, hormonal changes, and food cravings. For eating healthy and clean, you can try the following tips.

Eat a diet rich in protein that contains eggs, chicken, fish, and milk.

Consume healthy fats from peanut, coconut oil, and olive oil.

Have adequate intake of fiber.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Conclusion 

Gestational diabetes is a common condition that occurs during pregnancy in which your blood sugar levels hike. To prevent it, you must eat healthily, do exercise regularly, and try to get rid of stress. Moreover, visiting your gynecologist frequently can help in its early diagnosis, which can save you and your child from its adverse effects. Do not worry if you have gestational diabetes. For an expert opinion, you can consult with a gynecologist in Lahore.