Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs in pregnant women. Also known as gestational diabetes mellitus, this problem arises in pregnant women who are diagnosed with high blood sugar levels. According to a report, nearly 6 to 9% of the total pregnant women in the United States suffer from gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes can lead to serious health-related issues and pregnancy complications if not treated properly. In this blog, you’ll come to know more about Gestational diabetes, its causes, preventions, and how to treat the same!
Factors that lead to Gestational Diabetes
It is really important to be aware of the causes that make you prone to Gestational diabetes. Well, there is no proven cause of Gestational diabetes to date. However, medical experts state that the problem rises mainly due to hormonal changes. For instance, during pregnancy, the body secretes hormones like human placental lactogen (hPL) in larger amounts. At the same time, there is an increased secretion of hormones that promote insulin resistance.
Thus, your body becomes resistant to insulin and is unable to regulate the blood sugar levels properly. In simple terms, one can say that it’s the increased insulin resistance during pregnancy that causes your blood sugar levels to rise abnormally.
Let’s talk about Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors. Being familiar with the risk factors associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, one can take the necessary steps to prevent the same. A pregnant woman is more likely to develop gestational diabetes if She:
- Is above 25
- Has high blood pressure
- Has the disease in her genetics
- Is overweight before or during the time of pregnancy
- Is expecting twins or triplets
- Had given birth to an overweight baby
- Had an unexplained miscarriage
- Had been on drugs like Glucocorticoids
- Is dealing with health conditions linked with insulin resistance
Major Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Once you understand its risk factors, you should also know about what are the gestational diabetes signs. Well, the symptoms or the signs that you might have gestational diabetes are quite subtle. However, if you experience any of them, consult your physician as soon as possible!
The main gestational diabetes signs are:
- Extreme fatigue and weariness
- Blurry vision
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent Urination
- Snoring
- Urge to eat frequently
Must-Know Things about Gestational Diabetes Prevention
Basically, Gestational Diabetes has been further classified into two main categories – Class A1 and Class A2.
Class A1 Gestational Diabetes is the one that can be treated while making the required changes in your diet and daily lifestyle. On the other hand, Class A2 Gestational Diabetes demands proper drugs, oral medications, and insulin injections for its treatment.
Like the other forms of Diabetes, there is no clinically-proven cure against Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. However, you can abide by the recommended gestational diabetes prevention steps to lower its threat. For this purpose, you must know things like what to eat, what to avoid, when to see your doctor, etc.
What is the Perfect Diet Routine to Avoid Gestational Diabetes?
Consuming a well-balanced not only helps you maintain an active lifestyle but also keeps you safe from countless health-related problems. Likewise, a healthy diet plays a crucial role in managing gestational diabetes. Moreover, a pregnant woman should be more careful regarding her diet as she has to intake nutrients sufficient for both her and her baby.
The best-recommended diet for pregnant women comprises of all the essential carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats.
Gestational Diabetes What to Eat and What to Avoid!
Firstly, it’s really important that you eat at fixed intervals. In other words, eat your foods after a certain time gap. This would be of great help in preventing Gestational Diabetes (especially Class A1).
Here is what you should eat to avoid or manage Gestational Diabetes:
- Carbs – Consuming foods enriched with healthy carbohydrates at regular intervals is highly beneficial in controlling your blood sugar levels. However, it’s wise to seek expert advice from your physician or a registered diet expert. You can include foods like whole grains, brown rice, starchy vegetables, beans, lentils, etc. in your diet. Moreover, you may also intake low-sugar fruits like avocado, strawberries, etc.
- Proteins – Always ensure to include protein-rich foods in your diet. It is very important for pregnant women to eat protein with every meal. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, cheese, milk, nuts, seeds, etc. are a good source of protein for pregnant ladies.
- Healthy Fats – During pregnancy, your body demands more amounts of healthy fats. Eating foods enriched with monounsaturated fats is the best choice. You can switch to foods like olive oil, almonds, salmon, avocado, peanut butter, etc.
At the same time, pregnant women should avoid the intake of fried foods, alcohol, artificially sweetened drinks, candies, baked goods, etc.
List of the Best Homeopathy Medicines for Gestational Diabetes
Homeopathy is a form of medical treatment that has been practiced to cure diabetes for ages. Similarly, there are several homeopathic remedies that can lower the risk of Gestational Diabetes. Furthermore, there are no side effects of homeopathic treatments and can treat Gestational Diabetes naturally.
Talking in terms of medical science, homeopathic remedies cannot treat Gestational Diabetes entirely. However, they can play an important role in controlling their symptoms. These remedies are available in different forms such as drops, ointments, tablets, sugar pallets, etc.
Check out the list of homeopathic remedies that can help treat the symptoms of diabetes:
- Uranium nitricum
- S. cumini
- Conium
- Plumbum
- Calendula
- Candida
- Phosphoric acid and many more!
Some Essential Tips on How to Control Gestational Diabetes
Lastly, it’s you who can detect the symptoms of Gestational Diabetes and adopt measures to prevent the same. By following certain healthy habits before getting pregnant, you can lower the threat of Gestational Diabetes to a great extent. Check out our tips on how to control Gestational Diabetes listed below:
- Intake a nutritious diet – As already mentioned above, your diet plays a major role in preventing the symptoms of gestational diabetes. Thus, prefer healthy foods that rich in fiber, carbs, antioxidants, etc instead of fried junk foods. Besides making healthier food choices, remember to eat at regular intervals.
- Keep Yourself Active – Exercising regularly is also as important as consuming a healthy diet. You can engage yourself in moderate exercises like swimming, going for a walk, cycling, etc.
- Maintain a healthy weight – If you want to avoid Gestational diabetes and all the other pregnancy complications, lose your excess weight. Keep a check on your BMI levels. Furthermore, try not to get overweight after pregnancy as it can make you more likely to develop Gestational Diabetes.
Conclusion
On the whole, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is a health issue that can not only degrade your health but also lead to serious pregnancy problems. Also, it can adversely affect your baby’s health resulting in problems like breathing difficulties, overweight, hypoglycemia, stillbirth, or preterm birth.
Thus, always ensure to adopt all the precautionary measures for Gestational Diabetes listed above. And, do not delay in consulting a healthcare professional if you experience any of the Gestational Diabetes symptoms!
