Reader's Corner

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy. If you have diabetes, your body isn't able to use the sugar (glucose) in your blood as well as it should, so the level of sugar in your blood becomes higher than normal.

Gestational diabetes affects about three percent of all pregnant women. It usually begins in the fifth sixth month of pregnancy (between the 24th and 28th weeks). Most often, gestational diabetes goes away after the baby is born.

High sugar levels in your blood can be unhealthy for you and your baby. If the Diabetes isn't treated, your baby may be more likely to have problems at birth, such as low blood sugar level or jaundice, or your baby may weigh much more than normal. Gestational diabetes can also affect your health. You may have a more difficult delivery or need a cesarean section if your baby is very large.

You will need to follow a diet suggested by your doctor, exercise regularly and have blood tests to check your blood sugar level. You may also need to take medicine to control your blood sugar level.

Your doctor may ask you to change some of the food you eat. You may be asked to see a dietitian to help you plan your meals. You shouldn't eat foods that contain a lot of simple sugar, such as cakes, cookies, candy or ice cream. Instead eat only foods with natural sugars, like fruits.

If you feel hungry between meals, eat foods that are healthy for you, such as raisins or carrot sticks, or a piece of fruit. Complex sugar, which are found in foods like pasta, breads, rice, potatoes and fruit, are good for you and your baby.

It's also important to eat well-balanced meals. You may need to eat less at each meal, depending on the weight you gain during your pregnancy. Your doctor or dietitian will talk to you about this.

Your doctor will suggest that you exercise regularly at a level that is safe for you and your baby. Exercise will help keep your blood sugar level normal, and it can also make you feel better. Walking is usually the easiest type of exercise, but swimming or other exercises you enjoy, work just as well. Ask your doctor for some recommended activities.

If you're not used to exercising, at first try exercising five to ten minutes everyday. As you get stronger, you can increase your exercise time to thirty minutes or more per session. The longer you exercise and the more often you exercise, the better the control of your blood sugar will be.

You do not need to be careful about how you exercise. Don't exercise too hard or get too hot while you are exercising. Ask your doctor what would be safe for you. Depending on your age, your pulse shouldn't go higher than 140 to 160 beats per minute during exercise. If you become dizzy or have back pain while exercising, stop exercising, and call your doctor. If you have uterine contractions (labor pains, like stomach cramps), vaginal bleeding or your water bag breaks, call your doctor right away.

Your doctor will ask you to have regular blood tests to check your blood sugar level. These tests will let your doctor know if your diet and exercise are keeping your blood sugar level normal. A normal blood sugar level is less than 105 mg per dl when you're fasting (not having eaten for a number of hours before the test) and less than 120 mg per dl two hours after a meal. If your blood sugar level is regularly higher than these levels, your doctor may ask you to begin taking medicine (insulin) to help lower your blood sugar level. You may be asked to see a specialist if you have to start taking insulin.

While you're in the hospital after your baby is born, no other tests may be needed to check your blood sugar. However, gestational diabetes makes you have a higher risk for diabetes in your next pregnancy and also later in life. It may be several weeks after your baby's birth before gestational diabetes goes away. To make sure it has gone away, your doctor will ask to have a special blood test one or two months after you have your baby.

Even if the gestational diabetes goes away after the baby's birth, it's important that you continue to exercise, watch your weight and eat a healthy diet. If you do, you may not get diabetes when you're older.