Gestational diabetes mellitus

It's no secret that during pregnancy The female body bears a double or even triple burden. All internal organs, under the influence of hormones, begin to work “for wear and tear.” Therefore, diseases to which there is a predisposition often begin to appear during this period, but previously they were in “sleeping mode.” One such disease is gestational diabetes mellitus. We’ll talk about the causes of its occurrence, diagnostic methods and treatment methods today in our article.

Gestational diabetes: causes

Gestational diabetes mellitus is essentially a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism in the body. It is often called “diabetes during pregnancy,” because for the first time it appears and is diagnosed precisely when the girl is in an “interesting situation.”

The main cause of this disease is the inability of the pancreas to produce the required amount of insulin to cope with the conversion of sugar into glucose, which appears in the blood after eating. Meanwhile, glucose is the “fuel” for normal cell functioning.

The worst thing is that, due to this disorder, in the first trimester the child may experience various developmental defects associated with the most important organs - the heart and brain. And in the second or third, the baby’s already formed pancreas is connected to the mother’s aid, as a result of which it begins to “wear out” ahead of time, and after birth he may develop diseases of the endocrine system.

The risk group usually includes women who:

• There is a genetic predisposition - if diabetes mellitus the second type is found in close relatives. In this case, you need to be especially responsible about your own health and that of your unborn baby;
• Presence of excess body weight, which exceeds the norm by 20 percent or more;
• Elevated sugar levels were detected in urine tests;
• Women who have crossed the threshold of 30 years of age;
• Pregnancy occurs with severe toxicosis or gestosis (swelling, high blood pressure and other symptoms);
• Polyhydramnios (the amount of amniotic fluid is higher than normal);
• The previous child was born weighing more than 4 kilograms;
• Spontaneous abortions in the first and second trimesters have previously been observed;
• This disease had already been diagnosed before.

It is worth noting that both high and low sugar levels are equally bad for the mother and fetus.

Sugar during pregnancy

As noted above, this disease can occur in any trimester, and depending on this, it will give various risks and complications for both mother and baby. Therefore, it is very important to carefully monitor your blood sugar levels throughout the entire period and regularly take all necessary tests.

In order for the results to be reliable, the following rules must be observed before submitting them:

• stick to your usual diet and regular physical activity;
• the last meal should be 10-12 hours before blood sampling;
• in the evening you can drink boiled or still water from a bottle, in the morning you can only allow yourself a couple of sips;
• the test is so sensitive that it is not recommended to brush your teeth in the morning, chew gum and paint your lips with decorative cosmetics;
• If the day before you feel unwell, did not get enough sleep or are stressed, then it is better to reschedule the analysis to another day.

Most often, blood is collected for the test from a finger, but sometimes venous blood is also used. The final results with these two methods are slightly different.

Normal sugar levels pregnant For women, the indicator is considered to be 4-5.1 mmol/l, and a couple of hours after eating it is not higher than 6.7 mmol/l (blood is taken from a finger).

When the result turns out to be borderline or more than normal, the doctor orders a repeat test and only on its basis makes a final verdict.

If, based on the results of the tests, you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus, do not despair, most often after childbirth sugar levels return to normal. But subject to a special diet and doctor’s recommendations, which we will talk about later.

Gestational pregnancy - treatment

For minor deviations from the standards, no special treatment is required. In this case, the expectant mother must follow a strict diet, do not forget about physical activity, regularly take tests and visit an endocrinologist throughout pregnancy.

In addition to a set of exercises, walking or water aerobics for pregnant women will be very useful. The fact is that during active movement the body copes better with the breakdown of glucose. But remember, any load must be agreed upon with your gynecologist.

However, there are times when the above measures alone are not enough and the pancreas needs “outside” help. Then the doctor prescribes insulin injections. In no case should you be afraid of this, because they are not addictive and do not pose harm to mother and child. And the benefits will be limitless, as they will help to avoid defects in the development of the fetus. After childbirth, when everything returns to normal, this drug is discontinued.

Diet for gestational diabetes

The basic rule of diet for this disease is to exclude simple carbohydrates from your diet.

First of all, these are pure sugar, sweets, chocolate, confectionery and baked goods, potatoes, white bread and rice.

You will also have to forget for a while about some sweet fruits and berries: bananas, melon, figs, cherries, grapes.

Food should be less high in calories, but nutritious, because the expectant mother needs a lot of strength, and the baby needs nutrients and vitamins for proper development. Divide your daily meal intake into 6 meals, so it will be easier for your pancreas to cope with the production of insulin in sufficient quantities.

Fried, fatty, smoked, too salty and spicy foods are harmful even to a healthy body, so you should especially avoid them during pregnancy. The best option would be food that is steamed, boiled, or stewed without vegetable oils.

Now let's talk about what you can eat without fear:

• Lean meat: beef, rabbit, chicken, turkey;
• All vegetables, especially green ones. Potatoes are allowed in small quantities only in soups;
• Berries and fruits, except those listed above;
• All cereals, with the exception of semolina, but it is better to cook porridge in water;
• You can afford pasta made from durum wheat only a couple of times a week;
• Bread with bran, or made from whole grain flour;
• Dairy and fermented milk products should be low in fat.