Sunday, June 3, 2012

How to Avoid Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes (also known as gestational diabetes mellitus or GDM), is a condition singular to pregnant women. It is relatively common and can be managed with the help of a physician. According to the NICHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development), GDM occurs in about five percent of all pregnancies (roughly 200,000 cases) per year in the United States.

Proper gestational diabetes diet will do a lot of benefits. When a woman is pregnant, it is important to have optimum health to ensure that she and the baby would be fine. Problem is, since pregnant women are in a sensitive situation, they could not just take any type of medication since this may cause side effects, not just on her but the fetus too.
Determine your overall risk of developing diabetes. 
Type 2 and gestational diabetes are linked to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be brought on by being overweight. This might be an area you want to focus on if you are thinking about becoming pregnant. 


Type 2 diabetes can be hereditary. Talk to your family to see if you are in this group. Discuss any concerns you have about your family history and diabetes with your doctor.

Eat healthy.

Fiber from fruits and vegetable is also important. Eating a lot of fruits even in between meals will help you avoid feeling hungry. The fiber will make you feel full without stuffing too much food in your body. This prevents fluctuation of blood sugar levels. Aside from that, when you have high amount of fiber in your diet, this prevents toxins to get transported through your blood stream.

Lean meat such as chicken and some seafood are good sources of protein. Very dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and spinach are also good sources of protein as well as iron.

In gestational diabetes diet, eating 2 to 3 full meals and 3 to 4 snacks in between is recommended. Just make sure to eat only in small proportions so that your body can digest it well.

Develop a light exercise program.

Blood glucose drops during and after exercising. Even something as simple as walking around the block can be very beneficial. Make sure to monitor your heart rate while exercising and never exceed the recommended target heart rate for your age and weight.

One of the best ways to keep blood glucose at a steady level throughout the day is to eat small, frequent meals. The body releases insulin in response to high blood sugar that occurs when you eat. It is best to have a steady level of insulin in your system instead of extreme spikes and low points throughout the day.

Warning

If you are already pregnant, this is not the time to start a weight loss diet. Instead, focus on eating healthy throughout the pregnancy and leave the weight loss for after the baby is delivered.

Always discuss any exercise program with your doctor, especially if you were not exercising prior to becoming pregnant.



Read more:
Glossary of Gestational Diabetes

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