Gestational Diabetes

Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times had a review on how treating both mild gestational diabetes in addition to gestational diabetes leads to less preterm births and fewer cases of problems with pregnancy and delivery.

Since pregnancy is a state of insulin resistance, many pregnant women are susceptible to blood sugar changes.  Women with gestational diabetes (diabetes brought on by hormones in pregnancy) have a high propensity to have diabetes later in life.  Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with onset of first recognition during pregnancy.

Having gestational diabetes can almost be looked at as a blessing since it is a forewarning and can be treated.  If women with gestational diabetes change their diets and lifestyle both during pregnancy and afterward, they can avoid getting adult onset or Type 2 diabetes in the future.  Of course, this is not always the case, but a diet and exercise alteration now can deter or obliterate diabetes later in life for many women.

Treating gestational diabetes can be as simple as eating more protein with a balance of healthy carbohydrates from vegetables, fruits and dairy products with healthy sources of fats such as nuts, seeds, peanut or other nut butters and avocado. 

Checking the blood sugars one and a half to two hours after eating can also be helpful in terms of knowing how your food is affecting you right now.  It is important to get help from a Registered Dietitian who is familiar with diabetes in pregnancy and can help you stay on track.  I have more detailed information on pregnancy and gestational diabetes in my new book A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian, which became available last week.

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