Exercise for Gestational Diabetes

Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Exercise can increase insulin sensitivity and can lower blood sugar independently of insulin. Therefore, patients with gestational diabetes can also exercise appropriately, which is beneficial for the utilization of blood sugar and helps lower it. The exercise for gestational diabetes generally involves regular, rhythmic aerobic exercises, which can include upper body exercises, gymnastics, and previously mentioned activities. The duration of exercise should generally be around 20-30 minutes, and it is advisable to exercise about one hour after meals. The frequency of exercise should be three to five times per week. During exercise, the heart rate should not exceed 120 beats per minute to avoid intense physical activity.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes blood sugar standards

The diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes involve a pregnant woman undergoing a 75-gram glucose test at any time during pregnancy to measure fasting blood glucose, blood glucose one hour after consuming glucose, and blood glucose two hours after consuming glucose. The thresholds are: fasting blood glucose equal to or greater than 5.1 mmol/L, blood glucose one hour after glucose intake equal to or greater than 10.0 mmol/L, and blood glucose two hours after glucose intake equal to or greater than 8.5 mmol/L. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes can be made if blood glucose levels exceed these standards at any of the three time points. In China, pregnant women typically undergo the 75-gram glucose test between the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. Women at high risk for gestational diabetes are advised to undergo the 75-gram glucose test early.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
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Are there many people with gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is increasingly common now as living standards improve, and there is more attention on pregnant women from their families. Often, out of fear of malnutrition during pregnancy, there is a tendency to over-nourish and overeat, leading to significant weight gain around the 24th to 26th weeks of pregnancy. Upon examination, it is discovered that their blood sugar levels are elevated, indicating gestational diabetes. Although gestational diabetes is becoming more widespread, the blood sugar levels are usually not extremely high. Therefore, such patients can often manage their condition through diet control and encouraging appropriate exercise for pregnant women. Thus, pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes should not be overly stressed psychologically.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes screening time

The screening time for gestational diabetes refers to all pregnant women undergoing a 75-gram glucose tolerance test between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy to measure blood sugar levels and determine the presence of gestational diabetes. However, for pregnant women at high risk, including those with a history of gestational diabetes, delivery of a large fetus, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, a family history of diabetes, positive urinary glucose in early pregnancy, or unexplained recurrent miscarriages, fetal malformations, stillbirths, or even a history of childbirth with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, blood sugar should be monitored as early as possible to understand the situation.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
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What should I do about gestational diabetes?

As prenatal checkups are becoming increasingly popular, many expectant mothers undergo a glucose tolerance test between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy to diagnose gestational diabetes. More and more expectant mothers are finding their blood sugar levels exceeding the diagnostic thresholds and are being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Most of the time, gestational diabetes in expectant mothers is caused by reduced physical activity and overeating during pregnancy. For such expectant mothers, we can advise them to control their weight, strictly manage their diet, and increase their physical activity to maintain proper blood sugar levels. In fact, only a small portion of pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes require insulin injections to control their blood sugar.

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Written by Xu Dong Dong
Endocrinology
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Can you eat cherries if you have gestational diabetes?

Patients with gestational diabetes can eat cherries. Cherries have a relatively low sugar content and glycemic index, so eating them will not cause significant fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Additionally, cherries are rich in trace elements, particularly high in iron content, and consuming cherries can help supplement iron. Patients with gestational diabetes can eat cherries in moderation, but they should not consume too much at once, and it is recommended to eat between meals. There are also other fruits with low glycemic indices that patients with gestational diabetes can eat appropriately, such as apples, peaches, pears, oranges, and grapefruits.