Between 2% and 10% of all pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, which can pose serious health risks for both mother and baby. At MNT Associates, LLC in Longview, Texas, our team of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists offers expert gestational diabetes education through telehealth appointments. We support women across Texas with the knowledge and tools to manage blood sugar effectively during pregnancy. Call the office or book online today to learn how to manage gestational diabetes and protect your health and your baby’s well-being.
Book OnlineWhat is gestational diabetes?
Women who don’t have diabetes but develop high blood sugar during pregnancy have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes begins when pregnancy hormones interfere with insulin production. As a result, your blood sugar levels rise above the normal range.
Weight gain during pregnancy can also affect your body’s ability to use the insulin produced (insulin resistance).
Blood sugar levels return to normal and gestational diabetes disappears for most women after delivering their baby. However, it’s still essential to treat the condition while you’re pregnant to avoid complications. Having gestational diabetes raises your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
How does gestational diabetes affect my pregnancy?
Gestational diabetes increases the mother’s risk of dangerously high blood pressure (preeclampsia), which can threaten the life of the mother and her baby.
Excess sugar in the mother’s bloodstream reaches her baby, stimulating rapid growth, causing a larger than the average birth weight. You could give birth to a 9-pound (or larger) baby, which can cause trouble during labor, require a cesarean birth, and cause heavy bleeding after your delivery.
Gestational diabetes sometimes causes premature births and stillbirths. Your baby is more likely to have breathing problems, birth trauma, jaundice, and need to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Will I know I have gestational diabetes?
Unfortunately, gestational diabetes seldom causes symptoms. You might feel thirsty or need to urinate more frequently than usual, but most women don’t notice any warning signs. That’s why obstetricians routinely screen all women for gestational diabetes between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy — earlier if you’re at risk of diabetes.
How is gestational diabetes treated?
After diagnosing gestational diabetes, your obstetrician will probably schedule more frequent prenatal visits to monitor your health. Many women need to make only diet and exercise changes to restore normal blood sugar levels. But if lifestyle changes don’t help or you have dangerously high blood sugar, you’ll also need medication.
At MNT Associates, LLC, Kit offers personalized care, helping you lower your blood sugar by teaching you how to change your diet, manage your carbohydrate consumption, and establish a healthy exercise routine. You’ll also need to learn how to monitor your glucose, a necessary task that Kit can teach you.
Call MNT Associates, LLC, or use online booking to learn about lifestyle support for managing gestational diabetes.