How To Prevent Gestational Diabetes
Pregnancy diabetes or gestational diabetes today affects between 3 and 20% of pregnant women. Its mechanism specific to the state of pregnancy is well known, its management controlled and in the majority of cases, its disappearance after childbirth remains in order. Prevention remains the best of the alternatives to its possible appearance and evolution, the mother keeping a potential risk, when it appears, of developing chronic diabetes in the years that follow.
Understanding Pregnancy Diabetes
Why do we have gestational diabetes?
The pancreas, which normally secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, will be somewhat upset by the hormones of the placenta. Its insulin production will then be insufficient to counterbalance the effect of these hormones, leading to hyperglycemia.
Signs and risk factors
Even though fatigue, excessive thirst, headaches, and frequent urination can be some of the main symptoms, the latter being common in pregnant women, they can go unnoticed.
However, the risk of developing diabetes increases with age, being overweight, having a history of diabetes in the family, having already had a baby weighing more than 4 kg, or developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy. previous pregnancy.
Screening for gestational diabetes
The screening test is recommended between the 24th and 28th week in all pregnant women. In women at risk, fasting blood sugar at the very beginning of pregnancy is recommended with a screening test performed earlier.
Screening can be done in 2 ways with blood sugar measurement
1 hour after ingesting 50 g of glucose
On an empty stomach, then 1 hour and 2 hours after ingestion of 75 g of glucose
Risks and complications are possible if diabetes is not detected and therefore regulated. Signs such as excess amniotic fluid, the appearance of hypertension should initiate an earlier screening process, as should a baby whose weight assessed in utero is above the curves.
Not screened for diabetes may cause a risk
Cesarean delivery, due among other things to the weight of the baby,
From birth prematurely caused by excess amniotic fluid,
A higher risk of remaining diabetic after childbirth or of developing chronic diabetes in the long term,
Hypoglycemia in the baby at birth,
Risk of obesity for the baby and glucose intolerance in adulthood.
How to treat gestational diabetes?
A healthy diet taking into account the portions and distribution of sugars as well as a healthy lifestyle is generally sufficient to control gestational diabetes. The cornerstone of treatment lies in the controlled diet of carbohydrates.
However, if the blood sugar levels remain too high, the doctor will prescribe insulin injections (hospitalization beforehand will have been organized) or in some cases oral antidiabetics.
Monitoring during childbirth: blood sugar is monitored and treatment is adapted according to blood sugar levels.
Monitoring after childbirth: the baby's blood sugar is monitored during the hours following birth and a test is recommended for the mother between 6 weeks and 6 months after childbirth. Maintaining a healthy weight is recommended with the resumption of a balanced diet and physical activity.
The advice of the midwife
A balanced diet
To be organized from the start of pregnancy, taking into account the desires and difficulties in some cases of eating properly, especially when nausea persists. The guarantee of not developing diabetes lies in maintaining a balanced diet by consulting (even if there is NO risk factor) a dietician to establish a diet plan, by distributing the sugars throughout the day. .Maintain physical activity
It is important to maintain physical activity when pregnancy is announced! Many sports are suitable, such as walking, dancing, cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing and even jogging
You can engage in physical activity by starting gradually if you are not soulful of a sportswoman: 3 to 5 sessions of 45 minutes brings many benefits and helps control pregnancy diabetes.
Breast-feed
Once the baby is born, breastfeeding is recommended for all mothers, diabetics or not. It helps control blood sugar and prevents the onset of chronic diabetes. It also reduces the risk of obesity in children.
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