Treatment of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes is diabetes in pregnant woman due to high glucose level in blood. Gestational diabetes disappears after birth of baby. However untreated or poorly managed Gestational Diabetes can cause harm to both baby and mother.
Treatment of Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy includes following:
Eating Balanced Diet:
When diagnosed for Gestational Diabetes, you should consult a dietician and prepare a reasonable diet plan. Amount of carbohydrates, nutrition and fat should be proper to keep glucose level within permissible limit. Also take your meal at same time everyday.
Regular Exercise:
Regular exercise is also helpful in keeping glucose level in normal range. Consult your doctor about duration and different types of exercise that need to done during pregnancy.
Insulin Therapy:
If glucose level is on higher side after taking balanced diet and doing regular exercise, then insulin injections are needed. Blood sugar level is returned to normal after delivery and there is no need of insulin after that.
Monitoring Glucose:
It is necessary to check your glucose level regularly at least 4 times a day. A machine called Glucometer is used to measure glucose level. If you find any abnormal reading, consult your doctor immediately.
Monitoring fetal growth:
Doctor may ask you to observe fetal growth (also called kicks count) and report them if there is any significant change. To see how fetal growing, fetal ultrasound is is used. If fetal is larger than expected then you have to take insulin injections. A nonstress test is conducted to find fetus's heart rate.
Regular medical check up:
Most women with gestational diabetes have high blood pressure. Therefore they need regular medical check up to monitor blood pressure and test urine for proteins. Doctor also asks them to keep daily food record. They may review your diet plan if there is any weight inadequate weight gain or loss.
A woman with gestational diabetes when reached its 38 week, doctor may want to deliver a baby to reduce further complications that baby will be abnormally large. At this time, they may induce labor or perform C-section (cesarean section) to deliver a baby.
After delivery both baby and mother need to be monitored closely. As glucose level of mother comes to normal after delivery, insulin injections are not needed. Glucose level of baby is monitored. Baby's glucose level is low after birth if mother's glucose level is above acceptable range during pregnancy. In this situation, breastfeeding will help in bringing glucose level to normal. Sometime baby may need sugar water drink or glucose to protect him from low glucose level.