Blood Sugar Level During Pregnancy, What's Normal?
The form of diabetes which develops during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. This condition has become predominant in the recent pastaccording to the 2009 article in American Family Physician. For instance, in the United States alone, it affects around 5% to 9% of all the pregnant women. Pregnancy aggravates the preexisting type 2 and type 1 diabetes. During pregnancy the sugar level may tend to be high sometimes, posing problems to the mother and the infant as well. However, concerning the sugar level during pregnancy, what's normal? Blood sugar control is one of the most essential factors that should be undertaken during pregnancy. When measures are taken to control blood sugar level during pregnancy, it increases chances of a successful pregnancy. The average fasting glucose for pregnant women without any diabetes condition range from 69 to 75 and from 105 to 108 immediately one hour after consuming food. If you have preexisting diabetes or you have developedgestational diabetes, the best way to handle the blood sugar level is to ensure that it remains in between the normal range, not going too low or high. According to the recommendations of the 2007, Fifth International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes, which established blood glucose goals especially for diabetic women, during the period of pregnancy, the fasting blood sugar should not exceed 96. Blood sugar should remain below 140 just one hour after eating and below 120 two hours later. Why Is It Important to Keep Normal Blood Sugar Level During Pregnancy? The most effective way to prevent complications related to diabetes is to control the amount or the level of blood sugar. This blood sugar control is very significant during pregnancy as it can: Minimize the risk of stillbirth as well as m Continue reading >>
Gestational Diabetes
What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes is a condition marked by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that are discovered during pregnancy. It is defined as carbohydrate intolerance. About two to 10 percent of all pregnant women in the U.S. are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Am I at risk for gestational diabetes? These factors increase your risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy: Being overweight before becoming pregnant (if you are 20% or more over your ideal body weight) Family history of diabetes (if your parents or siblings have diabetes) Being over age 25 Previously giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds Previously giving birth to a stillborn baby Having gestational diabetes with an earlier pregnancy Being diagnosed with pre-diabetes Having polycystic ovary syndrome Being African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian-American, American Indian, or Pacific Islander American Keep in mind that half of women who develop gestational diabetes have no known risk factors. What causes gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes is caused by some hormonal changes that occur in all women during pregnancy. The placenta is the organ that connects the baby (by the umbilical cord) to the uterus and transfers nutrients from the mother to the baby. Increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta can prevent insulin—a hormone that controls blood sugar—from managing glucose properly. This condition is called "insulin resistance." As the placenta grows larger during pregnancy, it produces more hormones and increases this insulin resistance. Usually, the mother’s pancreas is able to produce more insulin (about three times the normal amount) to overcome the insulin resistance. If it cannot, sugar levels will rise, resulting in gestational dia Continue reading >>
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- Leeds diabetes clinical champion raises awareness of gestational diabetes for World Diabetes Day
- Gestational Diabetes: The Overlooked Form of Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes Diet
Gestational diabetes, which causes higher-than-normal blood sugar levels to be present, occurs during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes testing usually occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you have risk factors for diabetes, your doctor may recommend testing earlier in the pregnancy. If you receive a gestational diabetes diagnosis, you’ll need testing 6 to 12 weeks after giving birth to see whether the diabetes is still present. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after you deliver, although you’re at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, gestational diabetes affects 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women in the United States. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of having a large baby, which may cause problems with delivery. It also increases the risk of having a baby born with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Respiratory distress, jaundice, and low calcium and magnesium levels are also more common in babies whose mothers have gestational diabetes. There’s a higher risk of your baby developing diabetes later in life as well. Changing your diet is generally the first method of treatment for gestational diabetes. The amount of calories you should consume each day depends on a number of factors, such as your weight and activity level. Pregnant women should generally increase their calorie consumption by 300 calories per day from their prepregnancy diet. Doctors recommend three meals and two to three snacks per day. Eating smaller meals more frequently can help you keep your blood sugar levels stable. Your doctor will likely recommend that you monitor your blood sugar levels to help manage gestational diabetes. Testing your blood sugar after meals tells you how that meal affected your blood sugar. Your d Continue reading >>
What You Can Expect
The glucose tolerance test is done in several steps. When you arrive at your doctor's office or lab, a member of your health care team will take a sample of blood from a vein in your arm. This blood sample will be used to measure your fasting blood glucose level. Type 2 diabetes If you're being tested for type 2 diabetes: You'll drink about 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of a syrupy glucose solution containing 2.6 ounces (75 grams) of sugar Two hours later, your blood glucose level will be measured again Gestational diabetes The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends performing a one-hour blood glucose challenge test to screen for gestational diabetes in low-risk pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend earlier screening if you're at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. Risk factors may include: Gestational diabetes in an earlier pregnancy Family history of diabetes Obesity Having a medical condition associated with the development of diabetes, such as metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome If your doctor determines you're at risk or you have a suspicious value on the one-hour test, you may be advised to take a three-hour glucose tolerance test. For the three-hour test: You will be asked to come to the test fasting — not having had anything to eat or drink for the previous 8 hours. A fasting blood sugar will be obtained. You'll drink about 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of a glucose solution containing 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of sugar. Your blood glucose level will be tested again one, two and three hours after you drink the solution. After drinking the glucose solution, you'll likely need to remain in the doctor's office or lab while you're waiting for your blood glucose level to be tested. Continue reading >>
Diabetes In Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes does not increase the risk of birth defects or the risk that the baby will be diabetic at birth. Also called gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), this type of diabetes affects between 3% and 20% of pregnant women. It presents with a rise in blood glucose (sugar) levels toward the end of the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. In 90% if cases, it disappears after the birth, but the mother is at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Cause It occurs when cells become resistant to the action of insulin, which is naturally caused during pregnancy by the hormones of the placenta. In some women, the pancreas is not able to secrete enough insulin to counterbalance the effect of these hormones, causing hyperglycemia, then diabetes. Symptoms Pregnant women generally have no apparent diabetes symptoms. Sometimes, these symptoms occur: Unusual fatigue Excessive thirst Increase in the volume and frequency of urination Headaches Importance of screening These symptoms can go undetected because they are very common in pregnant women. Women at risk Several factors increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes: Being over 35 years of age Being overweight Family members with type 2 diabetes Having previously given birth to a baby weighing more than 4 kg (9 lb) Gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy Belonging to a high-risk ethnic group (Aboriginal, Latin American, Asian or African) Having had abnormally high blood glucose (sugar) levels in the past, whether a diagnosis of glucose intolerance or prediabetes Regular use of a corticosteroid medication Suffering from ancanthosis nigricans, a discoloration of the skin, often darkened patches on the neck or under the arms Screening The Canadian Diabetes Association 2013 Clinical Practice Gui Continue reading >>
Understanding Gestational Diabetes
Introduction Approximately 3 to 5 percent of all pregnant women in the United States are diagnosed as having gestational diabetes. These women and their families have many questions about this disorder. Some of the most frequently asked questions are: What is gestational diabetes and how did I get it? How does it differ from other kinds of diabetes? Will it hurt my baby? Will my baby have diabetes? What can I do to control gestational diabetes? Will I need a special diet? Will gestational diabetes change the way or the time my baby is delivered? Will I have diabetes in the future? This brochure will address these and many other questions about diet, exercise, measurement of blood sugar levels, and general medical and obstetric care of women with gestational diabetes. It must be emphasized that these are general guidelines and only your health care professional(s) can tailor a program specific to your needs. You should feel free to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor or other health care provider, as no one knows more about you and the condition of your pregnancy. What is gestational diabetes and what causes it? Diabetes (actual name is diabetes mellitus) of any kind is a disorder that prevents the body from using food properly. Normally, the body gets its major source of energy from glucose, a simple sugar that comes from foods high in simple carbohydrates (e.g., table sugar or other sweeteners such as honey, molasses, jams, and jellies, soft drinks, and cookies), or from the breakdown of complex carbohydrates such as starches (e.g., bread, potatoes, and pasta). After sugars and starches are digested in the stomach, they enter the blood stream in the form of glucose. The glucose in the blood stream becomes a potential source of energy for the entire body, sim Continue reading >>
Blood Sugar Screening (prenatal)
In order to determine whether you've developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy, doctors may test your blood sugar level. The most common procedure is a glucose screening. Most women are tested between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, the time when the body is likely to begin having greater difficulty processing glucose. If you are at high risk, your doctor will likely test you much earlier. Pregnancy hormones disrupt your body's ability to make or use insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas), which helps turn sugar from food into energy. When these hormones are disrupted, dangerously high amounts of sugar (glucose) can show up in the blood. Who should have the test? Guidelines issued by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend that all pregnant women have a risk assessment for gestational diabetes at their first prenatal visit. Women who are known to be at high risk of getting the condition should be screened as soon as possible after their pregnancy is confirmed. According to the ADA, a woman is considered to be high risk with any of the following risk factors: Is severely obese Has a strong family history of type 2 diabetes Has glucose in her urine Has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS (a condition that affects a woman's menstrual cycle, hormone levels, heart, and blood vessels) Had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy Delivered a very large baby in a previous pregnancy Like many screening procedures, initial glucose screenings have a high false-positive rate. You may simply be one of the 17.9 percent of women who test positive for the condition who aren't diagnosed with the disorder on follow-up testing. However, if your test results show a fasting blood glucose reading of 90 mg/dl and 140 mg/dl or more an hour after eating, you'll au Continue reading >>
What Is Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy?
Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy More and more, pregnant women in the United States are facing an ailment that can have negative consequences for both mothers and babies: gestational diabetes. Diabetes is a condition wherein the body cannot regulate its sugar levels, resulting in high or low blood sugar levels. Why is this becoming more prevalent with pregnant women? According to studies, more women are entering pregnancy as obese. Obesity is a high risk factor for diabetes. Some of these women have diabetes pre-pregnancy while others develop it after their pregnancy hormones take over. On the other side, there are just as many fit and healthy pregnant women who find out they have gestational diabetes. Why is that the case? What is this form of diabetes during pregnancy? Here you will read about the condition gestational diabetes, how it is caused, and how it can be both prevented and treated. What is Gestational Diabetes? Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman's body cannot control her blood sugar effectively, causing her to have high blood sugar. Nearly 4% of all pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. The pancreas is responsible for emitting the sugar controlling substance insulin into the blood to help remove excess amounts of sugar from the body. Sometimes, the pancreas produces too much insulin, and other times it doesn't produce enough. When it doesn't produce enough insulin, it cannot help remove sugar, causing high blood sugar. During pregnancy, hormonal increases change the levels of insulin produced by the pancreas, making it so that the pancreas cannot keep up with the production of insulin needed to regulate blood sugar. If this continues, gestational diabetes is what occurs. Most of the time, this happens to pregnant women between the 24th Continue reading >>
I Failed The Glucola
Last week, I left you hanging about the results of my glucola. One of my readers emailed me: “Damn cliff hanger!! I want to know your results. Lol. This is why I binge watch tv shows after the whole season is out. The suspense is killing me.” Who knew a glucose tolerance test could be described as “suspenseful?!” (other than me, of course…) I was certainly curious to get the results of my test. When the lab technician said they could run the analysis in office, I decided to stick around for a few extra minutes. (Plus, I just had to finish the riveting article I was reading in Alaska Sporting Magazine…) I was sure I had passed, so when the lab tech said: “You should have studied better.” I knew he was joking. But he wasn’t. I got a 141. Passing is <140. I was kind of shocked. I failed the glucola. Now what? Now, the 1-hour, 50 gram glucola is NOT diagnostic of gestational diabetes on its own. It is a screening test to identify those at “high risk” and determine who should get further testing. He said my next step was to come back again for the 3-hour test. Of course, since I specialize in gestational diabetes, I knew all that. I had already discussed testing options with my doctor and had decided that regardless of the results of the 1-hour, 50g screening that I would check my blood sugar at home with a glucometer for 2 weeks just for my own knowledge. In fact, I already had my prescription for blood sugar testing supplies in hand before I drank the glucola. Still, I walked out of the office feeling like a failure. How could I not feel that way? The official medical terminology is “passing” or “failing.” I cursed under my breath as I made my way to the car. A million thoughts raced through my head: Should I have opted out of the dumb test an Continue reading >>
Self-monitoring Of Blood Glucose During Pregnancy: Indications And Limitations
Go to: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important tool to treat diabetes during pregnancy. However, proper implementation of SMBG in pregnant women requires understanding of its applications and limitations. This article reviews issues related to the implementation, efficacy, and accuracy of SMBG and discusses factors that can confound results of SMBG during pregnancy. Keywords: Self-monitoring of blood glucose, Diabetes mellitus, Pregnancy, Review Go to: Introduction Perinatal morbidity and mortality rates, often affected by maternal diabetes, have dramatically been reduced since the discovery of insulin and its therapeutic implementation. In addition to increased availability of insulin, many important technological advances have been developed over the preceding decades. These advances culminated in a larger array of diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities that contributed to improved outcomes in high-risk pregnancies. The availability of glucose meters has represented an important positive impact in the treatment of pregnant women with any type of diabetes. Data frequently show patients who perform self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) more strictly adhere to treatment programs due to increased comprehension regarding treatment and participation in the prescribed treatment regimen [1]. Indications for self-monitoring of blood glucose during pregnancy complicated by diabetes SMBG is an integral part of standard diabetes care [2]. It allows pregnant women and their healthcare providers to determine the most effective therapeutic modality (e.g. diet, physical activity, or insulin) to control glucose levels and reduce risks of diabetes-related complications. The number of daily tests required to adequately monitor blood glucose levels is specific to the p Continue reading >>
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition which is quite separate from the other types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. The term gestational refers to it occurring during pregnancy. For many women who are diagnosed, their diabetes will go away after their baby is born. However, there is a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women who have already had gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs in around 5% of all pregnancies and of these women: Type 2 diabetes can develop between 5-15 years after their baby is born. 10-50% of women who had gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes. Following the baby’s birth, a mother’s blood glucose level generally returns to normal. What Exactly is Diabetes? Diabetes occurs when a person’s body is either not making enough of the hormone insulin, or their body cannot effectively use the insulin they are making. Insulin is needed so that glucose in the bloodstream can move into the body’s cells and be used for energy. When a person has diabetes, there is too much glucose in their bloodstream and complications from this can arise. During pregnancy the placenta makes specific hormones which are designed to support the baby to grow and develop. But these hormones can also create problems with the effectiveness of a mother’s insulin and impair its usefulness. This is what it means to become insulin resistant. In the best of circumstances, a mother’s insulin level and her blood sugar level will stabilise and there is not an excess or deficiency in either one. But in gestational diabetes blood glucose is not being controlled by adequate insulin, so there needs to be either a drop in dietary glucose, an increase in insulin or a combination of both. Who is at Risk? Women who are over 30 years of age. Women from an i Continue reading >>
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- Leeds diabetes clinical champion raises awareness of gestational diabetes for World Diabetes Day
- Gestational Diabetes: The Overlooked Form of Diabetes
How To Test Your Blood Sugar Levels In Pregnancy
Test Frequently In order to build a healthy plan for controlling gestational diabetes, the goal must be to keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range throughout the day. This must be priority #1. When we eat foods that are healthy and normal for our body, sugar is released slowly and converted into blood glucose in a manner that maintains normal blood sugar levels. Eating unhealthy foods such as highly processed foods that are full of sugar, creates a rapid release of glucose and results in a higher than normal blood sugar level. The first step in a healthy plan for controlling gestational diabetes is knowing what your blood sugar level is by testing at intervals throughout the day. Women with gestational diabetes should measure their blood glucose levels at least four times a day. You should include a fasting blood sugar and a blood sugar one or two hours after each meal. Your results should be recorded in a glucose log, along with dietary information about what foods you ate. The glucose log will help your physician decided if you should begin an ant-hyperglycemic medication along with your diabetic diet. Conversely, your physician may decrease the frequency of glucose monitoring if you are in good control with diet alone. Keeping blood glucose levels in a healthy range at all times requires eating a healthy meal every 3-4 hours, getting regular exercise and if necessary taking insulin or other glucose lowering (hypoglycemic) medications. Achieving a normal maternal blood glucose level decreases the chance of having pregnancy related complications such as preeclampsia, preterm labor, and delivery of a large baby. Recommended Glucose Monitoring Levels The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) both h Continue reading >>
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
Blood sugar levels during pregnancy should be lower than in the non-pregnant state. The gestational diabetes treatment goal is to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible, in order to prevent the potential complications for the baby and the pregnancy. There is no consensus on what the blood sugar goals should be. The American Diabetes Association (the ADA)’s glucose targets are : Fasting blood glucose concentration ?95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L) One-hour postprandial blood glucose concentration ?140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) Two-hour postprandial glucose concentration ?120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) The glucose targets for the American College of Gynecologist (ACOG) are: Fasting glucose concentration ?95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L) or One hour-postprandial glucose <130 to 140 mg/dL (7.2 to 7.8 mmol/L) or Two hour-postprandial blood concentration ?120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) Keeping blood glucose levels normal will reduce the risk that the baby will be large (weigh greater than 9 lbs at birth). A large baby can be hard to deliver through the pelvis (leading to a complication called shoulder dystocia). This increases the risk of injuring the infant (e.g. broken bones or nerve injury). A large baby is also more likely to cause injury to the woman during the delivery. Gestational Diabetes Treatment Changes in Diet – To learn what changes you should make in your diet, you should meet with a dietitian or nurse. Here are some general guidelines for gestational diabetes diet: Blood Sugar Monitoring – You will learn how to check your blood sugar level and record the results. SEE MONITORING YOUR SUGARS Initially, most women should check their blood sugar level four times per day: Before eating in the morning One hour after breakfast, lunch, and dinner This information can help to determine whethe Continue reading >>
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- Relative effectiveness of insulin pump treatment over multiple daily injections and structured education during flexible intensive insulin treatment for type 1 diabetes: cluster randomised trial (REPOSE)
- Leeds diabetes clinical champion raises awareness of gestational diabetes for World Diabetes Day
Gestational Diabetes Explained
Gestational diabetes is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and can lead to serious complications. Both mother and child also have an increased risk to develop diabetes later. iabetes means that your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is too high. Your body uses glucose for energy. But too much glucose in your blood can be harmful. Changing hormones and weight gain are part of a healthy pregnancy. But both changes make it hard for your body to keep up with its need for a hormone called insulin. When that happens, your body doesn't get the energy it needs from the food you eat. What is my risk of gestational diabetes? To learn your risk for gestational diabetes, check each item that applies to you. Talk with your doctor about your risk at your first prenatal visit. I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes. I am of Indian descent. I am 25 years old or older. I am overweight. I have had gestational diabetes before, or I have given birth to at least one baby weighing more than 4kg. I have been told that I have "pre-diabetes", a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Other names for it are "impaired glucose tolerance" and "impaired fasting glucose". If you checked any of these risk factors, ask your health care team about testing for gestational diabetes. You are at high risk if you are very overweight, have had gestational diabetes before, have a strong family history of diabetes, or have glucose in your urine. You are at average risk if you checked one or more of the risk factors. You are at low risk if you did not check any of the risk factors. When will I be checked for gestational diabetes? Your doctor will decide when you need to be checked for diabetes depending on your ri Continue reading >>
Why You Should Test Your Blood Sugar – Even If You’re Not Diabetic!
I’m pretty excited about Robb Wolf’s new book, Wired to Eat, and have just released a podcast where he and I chat about lentils, blood sugar, and “why” (I’ll get to that later in the post, or you can listen to the show). Before I talk more about the book, I thought I’d give you a little context on why I’m such a huge advocate of it… (and if you’re not interested in my story, skip down to “The Basic Gist of the Book”) I’ve always had blood sugar control issues. I think it goes back to being an undiagnosed Celiac as a kid, and constantly being hungry. I mean, I was starving ALL THE TIME. I could have eaten a full Thanksgiving dinner at any point during the day, and then some. I was really underweight as a kid, but always had a little belly. I also had a host of other issues like low muscle tone, hyper mobile joints, reading and attention problems, and had such low blood pressure that I’d sometimes randomly pass out. My small town, egocentric pediatrician declared I had lactose intolerance, and so he told my mother to give me diluted soy formula instead of milk. My daily meals looked something like this: Frosted Flakes with soy milk and orange juice plus banana for breakfast, canned chicken noodle soup for lunch, and Hamburger Helper for dinner. Rarely did we have fresh vegetables or a “from scratch” meal. My mom worked, and thought that homemaking was not for “modern women,” so my kitchen was stocked with Hungry Man dinners (you know, the ones in the tin foil) and Ritz crackers, “cheese spread” and the occasional bag of frozen string beans. During my 20’s, I went nearly vegetarian in college. I loved my deep fried tofu, lentils, and deep bowls of soba noodles. I never fully made it to completely plant-based, purely because my body c Continue reading >>
