Gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that happens only during pregnancy, affects more than 8% of all pregnancies each year, and unfortunately, the number continues to climb year after year.
Gestational diabetes occurs when your body can't produce enough insulin during pregnancy. Insulin helps usher blood sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells, so if you don’t have enough insulin, you end up with high blood sugar levels.
This can lead to several pregnancy-related complications for both you and your baby, including high birth weight and increased risk of cesarean section, high blood pressure, and neonatal hypoglycemia.
This begs the question: Can gestational diabetes be prevented? While some factors are beyond your control, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Below, our team of board-certified OB/GYNs and midwives here at Westover Hills Women's Health highlights some of the best ways to reduce your risk of gestational diabetes.
Any woman can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, but certain factors increase your risk. These include:
These risk factors don’t mean that you’re guaranteed to develop gestational diabetes, but they can shed light on your specific risk levels.
You can reduce your chances of developing gestational diabetes through:
What you eat is always important — it fuels your body and mind — but your nutrition takes on even more importance during pregnancy.
Your body needs 100% whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean protein. Avoid (or at least limit) refined and processed foods, foods high in sugar, and sugary beverages.
Be wary of sugar-free options. Research shows that women who drank artificially sweetened beverages were more likely to have infants with a higher body mass index.
Swap out soda pop for carbonated flavored water, pregnancy-safe herbal teas, and water. You can add fresh lemon slices or berries to your water for an added treat.
Eating balanced meals helps keep your blood sugar levels stable and provides the nutrients you and your baby need. Dietary modifications can help manage gestational diabetes if you develop it, but adopting these habits now can further reduce your risk of issues later on.
It’s not just about what you eat. How much and when you eat can also affect your blood sugar. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help keep your blood sugar stable and prevent blood sugar spikes.
Exercise helps your body use insulin more effectively and reduces your risk of high blood sugar. You don’t need to commit to a vigorous workout plan either. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day is sufficient.
Activities like walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga are safe and beneficial during pregnancy but always check with your Westover Hills Women’s Health provider before starting a new exercise routine.
If you're overweight or obese, losing weight before pregnancy can significantly reduce your risk of developing gestational diabetes.
While it’s ideal to lose weight before pregnancy, that’s not always the case. Once you're pregnant, focus on gaining weight gradually and healthily — a goal that’s based on your pre-pregnancy weight and whether you’re pregnant with one baby or two.
For example, women who are overweight before pregnancy should aim to gain 15.4 to 24.2 pounds during pregnancy.
We monitor your blood sugar levels and overall health throughout your pregnancy. Most women schedule their glucose screening test between weeks 24 and 28, but if you’re high risk or showing symptoms of diabetes, you may get a different timeline for screenings.
These prevention strategies go a long way in reducing your risk of diabetes, but it’s still possible that you could develop gestational diabetes. That’s because there are risk factors for diabetes outside of your control.
The good news is that you can manage gestational diabetes with diet, exercise, and if needed, medication.
To learn more about gestational diabetes management or to schedule your next prenatal appointment, call our nearest San Antonio, Texas, location or book online.
