It is not uncommon to hear that many pregnant ladies experience hypergylcemia (high blood sugar levels), glucosuria (glucose in the urine) or even full blown Gestational Diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) without having diabetes prior to their pregnancy. This diabetes or blood sugar levels are usually detected at your frequent check-ups as part of the routine.
What causes high blood sugar during pregnancy or gestational diabetes?
- You develop insulin resistance or glucose intolerance with the onset of pregnancy
- Prior undiagnosed diabetes or insulin resistance
- Diet and lifestyle reasons
Those who experience hyperglycemia or gestational diabetes have a risk of having diabetes after delivery but a typical case of gestational diabetes will have the hyperglycemia disappear after delivery. In Gestationbal Diabetes there might be no symptoms of hyperglycemia within the first trimester and it will only manifest later in the pregnancy due to an increase in progesterone and cortisol levels. Therefore, it is safe to say that the gestational diabetes and high sugar is contributed to increased pregnancy hormones.
What can happen to me and the fetus?
- You can develop pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure
- Decreased kidney functioning
- Growth retardation within the uterus leading to low birth weight infant
- An increased risk of a microsomal baby (large for age) which may lead to problems during natural birth
- Risk of the child developing early insulin resistance
- Risk of the child being obese
What should I do about it?
1. If you are at risk (Overweight prior to pregnancy or already insulin resistant) take special precaution and discuss this with your gynaecologist.
2. Try to stick to the amount of weight that you should gain. See this chart to determine your ideal weight gain
3. Follow a LOW GI diet with controlled amount of carbohydrates.
4. Small frequent meals: These low GI carbohydrates should be spaced evenly throughout the day to prevent spikes and falls in blood glucose levels.
5. See your dietitian as soon as you hear that you are battling to tolerate glucose to have an individualised eating plan.
6. Discuss exercise with your doctor and biokineticist as this has an effect of lowering the blood sugar.
After to baby is delivered:
1. Get back into an energy controlled low GI diet to lose the weight and prevent retaining some symptoms of diabetes
2. Breastfeeding can help you lose the weight and control your sugar levels
3. Eat small frequent meals
4. Check your blood sugar regularly! Especially if you are not losing the weight. You might be at risk for permanent insulin resistance and diabetes putting you ate risk of many other diseases and might prevent you from having another healthy baby
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