Gestational diabetes is so called because it occurs when a woman is pregnant. At this time, the pregnant woman’s body experiences difficulty trying to maintain healthy glucose levels and her sugar levels are very high.

All pregnant women will be tested for gestational diabetes. If diabetes runs in the family, or if the pregnant woman is diabetic, then the test will be done very early in her pregnancy. Otherwise, the test will normally take place at the woman’s 28th week of pregnancy.

Four in 100 women usually develop gestational diabetes. Most of these women will no longer be diabetic after the baby is born. However, half of these women are likely to develop diabetes later in life.

Testing For Gestational Diabetes

To test how a pregnant woman’s body handles sugar, the doctor will give her patient a “glucose challenge”. This consists of half a bottle of glucola (sugar water that is coca cola flavored). The patient is then asked not to eat and drink for one hour, by which time her blood is drawn. The blood is then tested for sugar level. If the sugar level is normal, the pregnant woman is okay. But if it is high, then the pregnant woman must return for a second test.

In the second test, the same procedure is followed. However, after the pregnant woman drinks the glucola, her blood is tested after one hour, two hours, and three hours later. This is so that the doctor can see how the pregnant woman is managing sugar over time. If the values are high, the woman will be given means to manage her gestational diabetes.

Oftentimes her doctor will tell her to:

1. Maintain a healthy diet and do light exercise (the latter may vary depending on what the doctor will say).
2. Take oral medication.
3. Have insulin injections.

Can gestational diabetes be prevented? Some women will develop gestational diabetes no matter what they do. In fact, there is no one sure way to prevent gestational diet. Usually, the doctor will simply advise the pregnant woman to maintain healthy habits all throughout her pregnancy. This includes eating a healthy and balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables; and possibly, exercise of a light intensity some days of the week.

Share this: