Pregnancy Diabetes – How It Can Be Prevented

Gestational diabetes occurs due to a change in the metabolism of glucose during pregnancy. It is a type of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy, and which prevents insulin from functioning properly. There is then an imbalance in the regulation of blood sugar levels.

This disease is relatively common, affecting between 1 and 4% of all pregnant women. It is mainly related to the woman’s genes, so it affects a specific group.

It is recommended that women who are predisposed to this disease, or who have relatives who have had it, undergo an annual examination, especially if they are pregnant. The disease is detected through a special blood test, which shows if the insulin levels are normal.

What are the symptoms?

This condition is not characterized by any symptoms. Therefore, all pregnant women undergo a glucose tolerance test between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy.

Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes often have healthy children. It depends on how well you control your blood sugar levels, as there is a risk that the baby will be born overweight.

Women who have already suffered from chronic diabetes before  should increase their regulation during pregnancy. These cases are not called gestational diabetes.

If the problem occurs during pregnancy, it will cease after delivery.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes

If blood sugar levels are monitored, pregnancy should not be classified as a high-risk pregnancy. However, one must keep a strict diet, and go for regular checkups.

The baby is also at risk of developing hypoglycaemia, which means low blood sugar. Therefore, it is important to start breastfeeding quickly after birth. It is also known that children born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at greater risk of developing diseases in the future.

There are some factors that increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes. The most common are:

• Overweight.
• That you have diabetes before.
• That you have relatives with diabetes.
• Sugar in the urine.
• Hypertension.
• To be 35 years or older.

It is important to have a healthy lifestyle before getting pregnant. The risk of suffering from this disease can be reduced by taking care of your body in advance. Keeping the right weight and exercising moderately are crucial factors for a woman who wants to get pregnant.

How to prevent gestational diabetes

To prevent gestational diabetes, the following steps are recommended:

• Exercise. A daily routine of moderate physical activity helps the mother to control her weight. It also provides more energy and reduces back pain. For example, you can walk, swim or do yoga for 30 minutes.
• Visits to the doctor. Having yourself examined during pregnancy is important so that you can calm your worries. Your doctor will take samples to check your blood sugar levels.

• Healthy food. Keeping a balanced diet is very important for both the health of the mother and the baby. The diet should be adapted to the mother’s weight, height and activity level. The food should be varied, and adapted to each individual pregnancy. A balanced diet is the best way to prevent this disease.