Gestational diabetes: symptoms, treatment and diet

Cristina Chiabotto, former mother of little Luce, is about to have her second baby but on Instagram she said that the second pregnancy was complicated by the gestational diabetes, a condition characterized by blood glucose values ​​above the norm. The signs of diabetes, which can also happen in women who do not suffer from it before pregnancy.

«I am followed by a gynecologist and a dietician. It can happen, the important thing is to be well followed and to be aware of what it is. Nutrition and movement as in everything are the basis. Let’s say that I’m trying to do my best, even if sometimes it’s difficult to do everything perfectly ».

What is gestational diabetes

It is customary to say that pregnancy goes hand in hand with hormonal imbalancesand that sometimes these can have repercussions not only on the mood but also on the general state of health.

The gestational diabetes is a striking example of this.

In the 15-20% of pregnancies, in fact, a metabolic disordercharacterized by aimpaired glucose tolerancethat is to the sugarsand more generally to carbohydrates, precisely defined gestational diabetes.

This particular condition, now easily diagnosed, if identified promptly and controlled through the dietlo lifestyle and the pharmacological therapycan be easily managed without particular complications.

What are the risk factors for gestational diabetes?

As this is a particularly frequent metabolic disorder, it is necessary for an expectant mother to know all possible risk factorsand where possible, check them.

The most important in this sense are:

– familiarity first degree for diabetes;

– previous pregnancies accompanied by diabetes or impaired fasting blood sugar;

– overweight e obesity;

– sedentary lifestyle;

– lifestyle and in particular the smoking;

– age advanced;

– polycystic ovary syndrome.

Obviously, where it will be possible to intervene, see on lifestyle, overweight and diet, it will be fundamental toactive commitment of the expectant mother.

From the moment a careful management of the disorder it is not accompanied by particular complications, it will be essential to identify it in time. For this reason, the leading experts in the sector have defined very specific guidelines for screening of diabetes in expectant mothers.

More precisely, the screening exam, that is the load curve with 75 g of glucose, it should be prescribed between the 24th and 28th week of gestation in women at medium risk, anticipated instead to 14 ° -16 ° in high-risk women and possibly repeated in case of negative result at 24th.

In order for the test to be normal, and therefore to avoid the risk of gestational diabetes, i blood glucose values ​​should be:

– less than 92 mg / dL fasting;

– less than 180 mg / dL after 60 ‘ingestion of the load;

– less than 153 mg / dL after 120 ‘ingestion of the load.

What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?

Many of you will ask “but how can I recognize the gestational diabetes? What are the symptoms to which I have to pay attention? “.

Unfortunately, in the case of gestational diabetes, the situation is not very simple as it is symptoms are not always present and generally manifest themselves later in time.

However, contact your doctor, don’t be alarmed if you notice:

– an important increase in diuresis;

– one feeling thirsty always very high, especially at night;

– one drowsiness important immediately after meals;

– heartburn to the urinary tract;

– nausea and vomit;

– a unjustified weight gain in a very short period of time.

What are the complications of gestational diabetes?

If the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made at the appropriate times, and then established an adequate therapy and a correct nutritional interventionthe complications for both the mother and the unborn child will be minimal.

Conversely, uncompensated and underestimated gestational diabetes can determine an increase in risk from:

– abortion;

– complications in childbirth;

– fetal macrosomia (large fetus);

– hypertension of the newborn;

– neonatal hypoglycemia;

– diabetes in women.

How is gestational diabetes treated?

If you have gestational diabetes, yours gynecologistwith the help of a nutritionist and possibly a endocrinologistwill take care of you and your future baby.

Inevitably, you will be recommended one dietan ‘physical activity regular and in some cases one therapy hypoglycemic.

In particular the diet it will be the first therapeutic tool. This will have to guarantee the chorrible growth of the fetus and at the same time support you nutritionally by keeping blood sugar levels stable.

For these reasons, a nutritionist will advise you to:

– safeguard the protein intake of the diet, through the consumption of proteins vegetables and animals;

– drastically reduce the consumption of simple sugarssweets and carbonated drinks;

– to consume vegetables at every main meal and certain types of fruit during snacks;

– follow a scheme in line with the principles of Mediterranean diet but with a low glycemic load;

– avoid snacks, baked goods and foods with a high energy density;

– consume theappropriate amount of carbohydratesespecially in the presence of any insulin therapy.

THE 10 thousand steps a dayswimming and possibly regular physical activity supervised by a professional will help maintain adequate blood sugar levels.

When all this is not enough, the insulin therapy prescribed by your doctor will do the rest.

NOTE: this information they do not in any way replace the doctor’s binding opinion. Given the complexity of interpretation of these tests, it would be essential to consult your doctor who will be able to implement the appropriate diagnosis and possibly the necessary treatments.