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Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
What should I do about gestational diabetes?
In general, to diagnose gestational diabetes, the first step is to control the diet and engage in appropriate exercise to observe the reduction in blood glucose levels. If through dietary and exercise control, fasting and pre-meal blood glucose levels are below 5.3 mmol/L, and post-meal blood glucose levels after two hours are less than 6.7 mmol/L, and nighttime blood glucose should be higher than 4.4 mmol/L. If one can reach these standards through diet control and exercise, then continue as currently managed. However, if blood glucose levels cannot reach this range through diet and exercise, it is recommended to use insulin treatment as soon as possible. This is because uncontrolled blood glucose levels during pregnancy can significantly impact both the expectant mother and the fetus. Thus, if diet and exercise cannot normalize blood glucose levels, early treatment with insulin is advised. (Please take medications under the guidance of a qualified physician and do not self-medicate.)
The differences between gestational diabetes and diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition in which diabetes does not exist before pregnancy, but occurs after becoming pregnant. This is referred to as gestational diabetes. Diabetes refers to cases where the condition existed before pregnancy. Of course, sometimes it's not easy to distinguish between gestational diabetes and pre-existing diabetes, such as when diabetes exists before pregnancy but goes undiagnosed and is only discovered after becoming pregnant. In such cases, it is difficult to determine whether it is gestational diabetes or diabetes. In this situation, it is necessary to conduct further tests after childbirth; a 75g glucose screening test should be taken 6 weeks postpartum. If the results are still abnormal, it is considered diabetes.
What to eat after gestational diabetes
Patients with gestational diabetes should also pay attention to diet management after childbirth, avoiding overly greasy foods. Do not consume high-fat or high-sugar foods, and avoid porridge. A light diet is recommended, including frequent consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, and high-quality proteins. You can eat up to one pound of vegetables a day, primarily green leafy vegetables. For fruits, it's suggested to choose those with a low glycemic index and low sugar content, such as apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, grapefruits, oranges, etc. Protein intake can also be appropriately increased by consuming more lean meats, fish, shrimp, eggs, and drinking more milk, while regularly monitoring blood glucose levels. Most patients with gestational diabetes experience a decrease in blood glucose levels after childbirth, and dietary adjustments can be made based on blood glucose readings.
What to eat for breakfast with gestational diabetes?
Dietary control is extremely important for gestational diabetes. Eating too little may lead to poor fetal development, while eating too much may cause blood sugar levels to be difficult to control, leading to macrosomia or even adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, paying close attention to diet is indeed necessary. As for how much to eat, it can be calculated based on the total calories needed throughout the day, with breakfast accounting for about one-third of the total calories. Specifically for breakfast, it should consist of carbohydrates and protein, a moderate amount of fats, and certain vitamins. For example, for a user weighing 50 or 60 kilograms, breakfast could include 250 milliliters of pure milk, an egg, along with some whole grain bread or steamed buns, approximately 100 grams, and some vegetables. You could have cucumber salad or some kelp strips, which are low in glycemic index and can help fill the stomach. Additionally, between meals, such as between breakfast and lunch, it is appropriate to have two walnut kernels to keep blood sugar from spiking while achieving nutritional balance.
What can be eaten with gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes, which can be diagnosed between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy by drinking a sugary solution. If diagnosed with gestational diabetes, pregnant women must strictly control their diet. The amount of staple food, like rice, should not exceed 100 grams per meal. They can eat lean meats and eggs, and the vegetables should mainly be green leafy types. Fruit intake must be strictly controlled; high-sugar fruits like grapes, raisins, red dates, and bananas are prohibited. They can eat a small amount, such as half an apple, or some kumquats and grapefruit, which are allowed.
Gestational diabetes standard values
The screening for gestational diabetes should be conducted between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. This includes a 75g glucose test, where 75 grams of anhydrous glucose is dissolved in water and consumed within five minutes on an empty stomach. This test monitors fasting blood sugar, blood sugar one hour after the meal, and blood sugar two hours after the meal. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made if any of the following criteria are met or exceeded: fasting blood sugar is greater than or equal to 5.1 mmol/L, blood sugar one hour after the meal is greater than or equal to 10 mmol/L, and blood sugar two hours after the meal is greater than or equal to 8.5 mmol/L.
Is it necessary to always control diet after gestational diabetes?
Women with gestational diabetes should pay attention to diet control and physical exercise even if their blood sugar levels return to normal, and manage their diet and exercise as if they have diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes indicate poor pancreatic function, and generally more than half will develop diabetes after 20 years. Therefore, women with gestational diabetes should maintain long-term blood sugar control after childbirth, control their diet for a long time, avoid excessive consumption of fruits and sweets, and enhance physical exercise, including being active for at least half an hour after meals.
What to eat for a snack when hungry during gestational diabetes?
If you are hungry with gestational diabetes, you can eat some sugar-free biscuits, or some foods specified within the range of the doctor's medical orders. However, it is important to remember that dietary control is very crucial for diabetes patients, particularly during pregnancy. Some pregnant women with gestational diabetes may only need dietary control to maintain normal blood glucose levels, but it is also essential to ensure the nutrition of the mother and fetus, maintain normal blood sugar levels, prevent ketoacidosis, maintain normal weight, prevent weight gain, and control the blood sugar level under 8 mmol/L one hour after meals. In addition, it is necessary to supplement with calcium, folic acid, and iron daily, specifically according to the doctor's medical orders.
Gestational diabetes: what kind of milk to drink?
The overall principle of dietary control for patients with gestational diabetes is to manage the total calorie intake and adopt a pattern of eating smaller, more frequent meals. Ideally, the day should be divided into 5 to 6 meals. This approach helps not only in controlling blood sugar levels but also in reducing the occurrence of hypoglycemia. For patients with gestational diabetes, it is recommended to drink pure milk. However, many of the milk and dairy products available on the market contain a large amount of added sugar or have a very high fat content, which can lead to excessive caloric intake and affect blood sugar control. Therefore, for patients with gestational diabetes, it is advisable to drink low-fat or non-fat pure milk, which has relatively lower calories and will not impact blood sugar levels. It is suggested to have a glass of pure milk either two hours after a meal or before bedtime to help reduce the occurrence of hypoglycemia and prevent it during the night.
Harms of Gestational Diabetes
What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes is a condition of varying degrees of high blood sugar that occurs or is first identified during pregnancy, including impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes that were not identified before pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can endanger the health of both the fetus and the mother. The impacts on offspring mainly include an increased risk of fetal mortality in the womb, i.e., an increased risk of complications from congenital abnormalities, an increased risk of macrosomia, and an increased risk of neonatal hypoglycemia and developing diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance during adolescence or young adulthood.