How is gestational
What is
Gestational
more frequent
Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is high
blood sugar (glucose) that
develops during pregnancy
and usually disappears after
giving birth.
It can happen at any stage of
pregnancy, but is more
common in the second or
third trimester.
It happens when your body
cannot produce enough insulin –
a hormone that helps control
blood sugar levels – to meet
your extra needs in pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can cause
problems for you and your baby
during pregnancy and after
BY:
birth. But the risks can be
reduced if the condition is
detected early and well
managed.
diabetes managed?
You may need
checkups during your pregnancy.
Your healthcare provider will check
your blood sugar levels regularly.
You may need to monitor your
Gestational
blood sugar at home with a tool
called a glucose meter.
Some people need medication such
as insulin to manage gestational
Diabetes
diabetes. But most individuals can
keep their blood sugar levels under
control with just diet changes and
exercise.
How should I change my diet for
gestational diabetes?
You need to adjust your diet to keep
gestational diabetes under control.
Try to:
Avoid junk food, processed foods
and sugary drinks.
Choose a healthy balance of
proteins, carbohydrates, fiber and SUBMITTED
fat. Georweena Gracia Presto
Eat smaller meals more often.
Schedule your meals at the same
BSN 2-B
time each day.

Signs and Symptoms Risk Factors How gestational diabetes

can affect your pregnancy?

Gestational diabetes does not

Risk
gestational
factors for
diabetes include:
usually cause any symptoms. Being overweight or obese Most women with gestational
Most cases are only discovered Not being physically active diabetes have otherwise normal
when your blood sugar levels are Having prediabetes pregnancies with healthy babies.
tested during screening for Having had gestational However, gestational diabetes can
gestational diabetes. diabetes during a previous cause problems such as:
Some women may develop pregnancy your baby growing larger than
symptoms if their blood sugar Having polycystic ovary usual – this may lead to
levels gets too high syndrome difficulties during the delivery
(hyperglycaemia), such as: Having an immediate family and increases the likelihood of
member with diabetes needing induced labour or a
increased thirst Having previously delivered a caesarean section
needing to pee more often baby weighing more than 9 polyhydramnios – too much
than usual pounds (4.1 kilograms) amniotic fluid (the fluid that
a dry mouth Being of a certain race or surrounds the baby) in the
tiredness ethnicity, such as Black, womb, which can cause
blurred eyesight Hispanic, American Indian and premature labour or problems
genital itching or thrush Asian American at delivery
premature birth – giving birth
But some of these symptoms are before the 37th week of
common during pregnancy and pregnancy
are not necessarily a sign of pre-eclampsia – a condition
gestational diabetes. that causes high blood pressure
during pregnancy and can lead
to pregnancy complications if
not treated
your baby developing low blood
sugar or yellowing of the skin
and eyes (jaundice) after he or
she is born, which may require
treatment in hospital