Gestational Diabetes Care After Childbirth
Some women will continue to have trouble with their blood sugar after giving birth, so it's important to get your blood sugar tested at six to eight weeks postpartum. Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day can lower your risk for future health problems, so develop a workout plan - and stick to it. If you were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you were probably relieved to learn that 90 percent of the time, gestational diabetes goes away after you give birth. But there are still some important issues and risks you need to be aware of. The first few days, weeks, and months after delivery can be a time when you are at risk for both emotional and physical problems. Being aware of the risks and knowing what you can do about them can help. Typically, your blood sugar will be checked several times before you are discharged from the hospital after giving birth, so that you can be sure your gestational diabetes has resolved. "Medical follow-up for all women who have had gestational diabetes is very important. In 2 to 3 percent of women, diabetes continues after delivery. All women should have their glucose checked at between six and eight weeks," advises Robert O. Atlas, MD, chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "Emotionally, the first several months after giving birth can be stressful for many new mothers. Depression after childbirth peaks at three to four months. We can't say that gestational diabetes causes postpartum depression, but studies indicate that the risks may be higher for these women," warns Linda Chaudron, MD, a psychiatrist at University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. What Are the Risks After Gestational Diabetes? Some women will continue to have trouble with blood sugar after giving Continue reading >>
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- 'She's feeling terrible': Pregnant Danielle Lloyd 'has been forced to clear her schedule after being left bed-ridden with gestational diabetes'
- Glibenclamide and metfoRmin versus stAndard care in gEstational diabeteS (GRACES): a feasibility open label randomised trial
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. It can occur at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second half. It occurs if your body cannot produce enough insulin – a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels – to meet the extra needs in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause problems for you and your baby during and after birth. But the risk of these problems happening can be reduced if it's detected and well managed. Who's at risk of gestational diabetes Any woman can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, but you're at an increased risk if: your body mass index (BMI) is above 30 – use the healthy weight calculator to work out your BMI you previously had a baby who weighed 4.5kg (10lbs) or more at birth you had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy one of your parents or siblings has diabetes your family origins are south Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern If any of these apply to you, you should be offered screening for gestational diabetes during your pregnancy. Symptoms of gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes doesn't usually cause any symptoms. Most cases are only picked up when your blood sugar level is tested during screening for gestational diabetes. Some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar level gets too high (hyperglycaemia), such as: But some of these symptoms are common during pregnancy anyway and aren't necessarily a sign of a problem. Speak to your midwife or doctor if you're worried about any symptoms you're experiencing. How gestational diabetes can affect your pregnancy Most women with gestational diabetes have otherwise normal pregnancies with healthy babies. However, gestational diabetes can cause problems s 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 And Your Health After Your Baby Is Born
Your healthcare provider will check your blood sugar level after you deliver. For most women, blood sugar levels go back to normal quickly after having their babies. Six to twelve weeks after your baby is born, you should have a blood test to find out whether your blood sugar level is back to normal. Based on the results of the test, you will fall into one of three categories. After Pregnancy Test Categories If your category is… You should… Normal Get checked for diabetes every three years Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Pre-iabetes Get checked for diabetes every year Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to lower your risk level for diabetes Diabetes Work with your healthcare provider to set up a treatment plan for your diabetes The test also checks your risk for getting diabetes in the future. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 40 percent higher chance than women who have not had gestational diabetes of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Getting checked for diabetes is important because type 2 diabetes shows few symptoms. The only way to know for sure that you have type 2 diabetes is to have a blood test that reveals a higher-than-normal blood sugar level. You should also tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of these things: Increased thirsty Urinating often Feeling constantly or overly tired Losing weight quickly and/or without reason Having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you have diabetes, but your healthcare provider might want to test you to make sure. Finding type 2 diabetes early can help you avoid problems, like early heart disease and damage to your eyes, kidneys, or nerves. If you choose to use birth control methods in the future, talk with your health care provider about a method that won’t incr Continue reading >>
Lowering Diabetes Risk After Pregnancy
Well | Lowering Diabetes Risk After Pregnancy About nine percent of pregnant women have gestational diabetes , which usually goes away after they give birth. But about half these women will develop Type 2 diabetes later in life. A new study suggests two ways to significantly reduce the risk. Researchers studied 350 women with a history of gestational diabetes, comparing them with 1,416 women with previous live births but no history of gestational diabetes. The women randomly received one of three treatments: an intensive exercise and diet program, the diabetes drug metformin or a placebo. Over all, women with a history of gestational diabetes had a 48 percent higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes over the 10-year study compared with women who had stayed healthy during pregnancy. Metformin reduced the post-pregnancy risk of diabetes by 40 percent, while the lifestyle program lowered risk by 35 percent. Among the women who had never had gestational diabetes, the drug was not effective, but the lifestyle program also significantly reduced the risk for Type 2 diabetes. The study is online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Women with gestational diabetes are still at high risk even many years later, said the lead author, Dr. Vanita R. Aroda , a physician investigator at the MedStar Health Research Institute , and those risks can be reduced with metformin or lifestyle changes. This has significant public health benefits. A version of this article appears in print on 03/03/2015, on page D6 of the NewYork edition with the headline: Risks: Diabetes Strategy for Women. Continue reading >>
Gestational Diabetes
only happens during pregnancy. It means you have high blood sugar levels, but those levels were normal before you were pregnant. If you have it, you can still have a healthy baby with help from your doctor and by doing simple things to manage your blood sugar, also called blood glucose. After your baby is born, gestational diabetes usually goes away. Gestational diabetes makes you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but it won’t definitely happen. During pregnancy, the placenta makes hormones that can lead to a buildup of glucose in your blood. Usually, your pancreas can make enough insulin to handle that. If not, your blood sugar levels will rise and can cause gestational diabetes. It affects between 2% and 10% of pregnancies each year. You are more likely to get gestational diabetes if you: Were overweight before you got pregnant Are African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American Have high blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be diabetes Have a family history of diabetes Have had gestational diabetes before Have high blood pressure or other medical complications Have given birth to a large baby before (greater than 9 pounds) Have given birth to a baby that was stillborn or had certain birth defects Gestational diabetes usually happens in the second half of pregnancy. Your doctor will check to see if you have gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy. Your doctor may test sooner if you're at high risk. To test for gestational diabetes, you will quickly drink a sugary drink. This will raise your blood sugar levels. An hour later, you’ll take a blood test to see how your body handled all that sugar. If the results show that your blood sugar is higher than a certain cutoff (anywhere from 130 milligrams per deciliter [mg/dL] or hig 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
Family Health Online | From Managing Diabetes Magazine |diabetes | Life After Gestational Diabetes - Caring For Yourself And Your New Baby
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that appears only during pregnancy. It affects two to four per cent of expectant mothers. If you have had it, you are much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later. Your child will also be at risk later in life. In diabetes, the body is unable to use glucose (sugar) normally. Glucose is the bodys source of energy. Your brain, muscles and body need it to function. Developing babies also require it. Your body uses the insulin hormone to process glucose. After 24 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta produces higher levels of pregnancy hormones. If they cause insulins normal function to decline, gestational diabetes results and can last until the baby is born. Target blood glucose levels for people with diabetes who are not pregnant Diabetes is a serious, lifelong health condition. A healthy lifestyle after gestational diabetes will be an important part of preventing type 2 diabetes, both in you and in your child. Long-term complications associated with diabetes can affect the kidneys, eyes, nerves and blood vessels. By controlling your blood glucose levels through good nutrition and physical activity, you can prevent long-term risks to your health. Once your baby is born, you still must take action to prevent diabetes. If you used insulin during your pregnancy to control blood glucose, you no longer need to take it. Once the placenta leaves your body, it no longer produces high pregnancy hormones. Your delivery team will check your blood glucose levels to make sure they are within target range. Since your insulin sensitivity will likely improve, the insulin your body normally produces will effectively control your blood glucose. Normal test results - no diabetes at this time. An OGTT is suggested every three years to monitor your Continue reading >>
Pregnant Ladies, Take Note: You Can Be Healthy And Fit And Still Get Gestational Diabetes
The one-hour glucose test is something every pregnant woman is asked to take. For the test, you chug a sugary drink, wait an hour, have your blood drawn, and then go about your day. The test is designed to check for gestational diabetes, a form of high blood sugar that affects pregnant women, and most women don’t hear or think about it again. That’s how I was, until I was told that I seriously flunked mine—and I didn’t take the news well. In fact, I'm pretty sure I blurted out something like, "How is that possible?" After all, the typical gestational diabetes patient is someone who has gained a lot of weight during their pregnancy and doesn’t exercise often. (Two of the major recommendations for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes are to follow a healthy diet and exercise more.) At seven months pregnant, I haven’t gained much weight, I eat healthy, and I run four miles, five days a week. My doctor also told me in the same visit that my baby bump is “measuring small,” and she wants to keep a close eye on it. WTF is going on?! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anywhere from one in 50 to one in 20 pregnant women has gestational diabetes, so this is a fairly common issue. I just didn’t think it would be my issue. But, apparently, you can develop gestational diabetes and be an otherwise healthy person. Like type 2 diabetes, “gestational diabetes is linked to excess weight gain and lack of exercise,” Anita Avery, M.D., an ob/gyn at Michigan State University, tells SELF. “However, plenty of otherwise healthy women who are in good shape can still develop gestational diabetes.” That’s why women are screened with a blood test, rather than just those who are thought to have a chance of having gestational diabetes ba Continue reading >>
What Happens After Baby Is Born With Gestational Diabetes?
What happens after baby is born when you've had gestational diabetes will depend on your type of birth and your birth plans. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels) and so it is recommended that babies have their blood sugar levels checked following birth in addition to the usual newborn checks. What to expect after baby is born - checks on babies born to diabetic mothers Neonatal or newborn hypoglycaemia Newborn babies of diabetic mothers when there has been poor diabetic control in pregnancy will often struggle with their own blood sugar levels after birth. This is due to the baby overproducing their own insulin whilst growing in the uterus to help process the excess sugars passed from the mothers bloodstream. These babies may have high insulin levels persisting in the first few days after birth which can result in hypoglycaemia as they are no longer receiving excess sugar from the mothers bloodstream and they may struggle to regulate their own insulin production to normal levels. Babies of mothers who have had reasonably good blood glucose control may still suffer with low blood sugar levels after birth too and so it is recommended that all babies born to diabetic mothers (including gestational diabetes) have their blood sugar levels checked. Testing baby for hypoglycaemia following birth with gestational diabetes In the majority of hospitals, newborns born to diabetic mothers are routinely monitored for hypoglycaemia. Each hospital is different as to how they monitor the blood sugar levels, but the procedure is the same. A midwife or nurse will heel prick the baby to obtain enough blood to be tested on a blood glucose test monitor, the same as we use to monitor our own blood sugar levels throughout the p Continue reading >>
Life After Being Diagnosed With Gestational Diabetes
Glucose Screening It is probably not news to you that somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant women undergo the glucose screening. Basically, you drink a cup of sugar water and then they test your blood to see if your body is producing enough insulin to handle the sugar. For women without diabetes, your pancreas is usually able to produce enough insulin to keep up with your sugar intake. However, during pregnancy, your pancreas has to work double time and it is not always up to the job. If you would like more information regarding the test, there are plenty of good websites, including this one. When I went in for the screening I just had this gut feeling that it would come back positive. I wasn't super high but it was high enough to have to go to the next testing. I cried! Even though I had a feeling it was coming I was still distraught for the next 12 hours or so. Then I got a chance to talk to a friend about it (who also had GD) and she assured me that it would not be the end of the world. Here is my story that I hope will make you feel the same way. Glucose Tolerance Test If you test positive in your first glucose test, you get to go back for the second one. You will probably have to take at least a half day off of work because it takes over 3 hours. You will get your blood taken 4 times: 1st - When you arrive at the doctor. You will have been fasting so it is your fasting blood sugar level. The goal is for this level to be under 95. Then you get to drink the mix. 2nd - One hour later. Your goal is to be under 180. 3rd - One hour later (or 2 hours after your glucose drink). Your goal is to be under 155. 4th - One hour later/3 hours after your glucose mix. Your goal is to be under 140. The testing was fairly easy all things considered. The nurses there are super pr Continue reading >>
What Happens After Birth With Gestational Diabetes?
The healthcare team will usually stop any diabetes-related medication as soon as you have given birth. However, you or your baby will receive extra monitoring, and perhaps extra care, as a result of the gestational diabetes. Your baby after the birth Gestational diabetes can directly affect your baby’s blood glucose levels. That means that he could be born with low blood glucose. This could lead to serious consequences if it is not treated, but your team will be aware of these risks and will know what to do. He may also have jaundice (which is usually harmless if treated) and may also have increased risk of breathing difficulties. You will be encouraged to feed your baby within half an hour after birth and then every two-to-three hours until his blood glucose levels stabilise. Two-to-four hours after the birth, the healthcare team will test his blood glucose level. They will do this by pricking his heel to get a drop of blood for testing. Your baby will not enjoy this, but try not to let it upset you. The test is done to keep your baby safe. If your baby’s blood glucose remains low, he might need some extra help to increase his blood glucose levels, such as being put on a drip or being tube fed. He may need to spend some time being monitored or treated in the neonatal unit – especially if there are extra complications. However the hospital will try to keep him in the ward with you wherever this is possible. "I was an emotional wreck afterwards for a whole week, crying all the time. I didn't like seeing my baby with tubes in him and he had jaundice as well so we weren't allowed to go home. But now, he's fabulous; constantly crawling around, he's a really busy baby!" Aisha, mum of one You after the birth Your blood glucose should be tested before you leave the hospi Continue reading >>
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- 'She's feeling terrible': Pregnant Danielle Lloyd 'has been forced to clear her schedule after being left bed-ridden with gestational diabetes'
- Guest Post: Giving Birth to Violet as a Woman with Type 1 Diabetes (Part 1)
Gestational Diabetes After Delivery
Short-term management and long-term risks After the intensified treatment often required for treating gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), clinicians may be tempted to relax after delivery of the baby. If it is assumed that no further management is needed, an excellent opportunity to improve the future health status of these high-risk women may be lost. There are special concerns for the early postpartum care of women with GDM. Encouragement and facilitation of exclusive breastfeeding is very important because of the profound short-term as well as long-term health benefits to the infant and the reduced risks for subsequent obesity and glucose intolerance demonstrated in many breastfeeding women. A method of contraception should be chosen that does not increase the risk of glucose intolerance in the mother. Some women with GDM will have persisting hyperglycemia in the days after delivery that will justify medical management for diabetes and perhaps for hypertension, microalbuminuria, and dyslipidemia. Treatment should be maintained according to the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association and other relevant organizations and adjusted for the needs of lactation. Treatment should be continued in adequate fashion to minimize risks to the early conceptus if there is a subsequent planned or unplanned pregnancy. Most women with GDM will not have severe hyperglycemia after delivery. This group should be followed for at least 6–12 weeks to determine their glucose status. Many studies over 3 decades on all continents of the globe demonstrate the high risk of subsequent diabetes in this female population. The degree of this risk is best assessed by glucose tolerance testing. Randomized controlled trials have proven that several interventions (diet and planned exercise 30 Continue reading >>
- Timing of Delivery in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Need for Person-Centered, Shared Decision-Making
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- 'She's feeling terrible': Pregnant Danielle Lloyd 'has been forced to clear her schedule after being left bed-ridden with gestational diabetes'
Gestational Diabetes And Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that is first seen in a pregnant woman who did not have diabetes before she was pregnant. Some women have more than one pregnancy affected by gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually shows up in the middle of pregnancy. Doctors most often test for it between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Often gestational diabetes can be controlled through eating healthy foods and regular exercise. Sometimes a woman with gestational diabetes must also take insulin. Problems of Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy Blood sugar that is not well controlled in a woman with gestational diabetes can lead to problems for the pregnant woman and the baby: An Extra Large Baby Diabetes that is not well controlled causes the baby’s blood sugar to be high. The baby is “overfed” and grows extra large. Besides causing discomfort to the woman during the last few months of pregnancy, an extra large baby can lead to problems during delivery for both the mother and the baby. The mother might need a C-Section to deliver the baby. The baby can be born with nerve damage due to pressure on the shoulder during delivery. C-Section (Cesarean Section) A C-section is an operation to deliver the baby through the mother’s belly. A woman who has diabetes that is not well controlled has a higher chance of needing a C-section to deliver the baby. When the baby is delivered by a C-section, it takes longer for the woman to recover from childbirth. High Blood Pressure (Preeclampsia) When a pregnant woman has high blood pressure, protein in her urine, and often swelling in fingers and toes that doesn’t go away, she might have preeclampsia. It is a serious problem that needs to be watched closely and managed by her doctor. High blood pressure can cause harm to both Continue reading >>
Red Flags Point To Diabetes After Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes linked to chubby bubs (ABC News 28/01/2011) Diabetes risk factors Australian researchers have identified a cluster of factors that significantly increase a woman's chances of developing full-blown type 2 diabetes if she has diabetes while she is pregnant. Their study found that women with gestational diabetes who also have at least four metabolic risk factors such as high blood glucose, high blood pressure, BMI over 30, low HDL levels and high triglyceride levels are six times more to have type 2 diabetes within 10 years, compared to women without the additional risk factors. The study, from researchers at the University of Western Australia and Perth's King Edward Memorial Hospital, is published today in the journal Nutrition and Diabetes . "We have shown that the cardiometabolic risk profile as assessed by cluster analysis in pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus strongly correlates with the development of diabetes and persistence of cardiovascular disease risk 10 years later," the authors write. Around 35 per cent of the 150 women with gestational diabetes included in the study fell into the 'high risk' category by virtue of having at least four of the additional cardiometabolic risk factors. Gestational diabetes is already known to increase the risk of a woman developing diabetes in later life, however the challenge is to identify which women with gestational diabetes are at greatest risk. "We were interested to see whether the gestational diabetic population had people in there who were at higher risk because they had some of those metabolic syndrome-like factors, so they were overweight, had abnormal lipids and abnormal glucose, and higher blood pressure," says lead author Professor Anne Barden, research professor at the School of Me Continue reading >>
Gestational Diabetes And Postpartum Follow Up
Gestational Diabetes a form of diabetes that is first diagnosed during pregnancy. Doctors usually routinely test women for gestational diabetes when they are between 24 and 28 weeks. In Utah, about four in 100 women develop Gestational Diabetes. High blood sugar during pregnancy can be serious. It increases the chances of delivering a large baby, making labor longer and more difficult, and increasing the risk of having a cesarean section (C-section). Having a large baby increases the risk of shoulder dystocia. Women are at higher risk for gestational diabetes if they: Are overweight or obese before becoming pregnant Have a family history of diabetes Are African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander Are older when they become pregnant Had Gestational Diabetes in a previous pregnancy The risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes in the future is higher for women with Gestational Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is usually (but not always) related to lifestyle. If a woman had Gestational Diabetes, it is important that she goes for her postpartum checkup and has her blood sugar tested at that time to make sure it has returned to normal. Blood sugar levels usually return to normal after delivery, but some woman may still have high levels of sugar in their blood. These women may be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Some women may have actually had undiagnosed type 2 diabetes prior to pregnancy. If her blood sugar is normal after delivery, it may still become too high later on, so it is important that she has her blood sugars checked every 1-2 years. There are simple things a women with Gestational Diabetes can do to reduce her risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes in the future. Try to lose pregnancy we Continue reading >>
- The effect of high-intensity breastfeeding on postpartum glucose tolerance in women with recent gestational diabetes
- Women in India with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Strategy (WINGS): Methodology and development of model of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (WINGS 4)
- Differences in incidence of diabetic retinopathy between type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus: a nine-year follow-up study
Post Birth Diabetes Testing
Gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes after the pregnancy. Statistics from Diabetes UK state that there is a seven-fold increased risk in women with gestational diabetes developing type 2 diabetes in later life. NICE state that up to 50% of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years of the birth. A 2002 publication from Diabetes Care comparing 28 studies found that elevated fasting levels during pregnancy was the most common risk factor associated with future risk of type 2 diabetes: Cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes increased markedly in the first 5 years after delivery and appeared to plateau after 10 years. An elevated fasting glucose level during pregnancy was the risk factor most commonly associated with future risk of type 2 diabetes. It is recommended that you should have a fasting glucose blood test at 6 weeks post-partum OR a HbA1c blood test after 13 weeks post-partum to check that you are clear of diabetes. It is no longer recommended that a repeat GTT is performed to check that the diabetes is clear (NICE guidelines Feb 2015). However it may still be offered in Scotland and Ireland or in hospitals which are not following the NICE recommendations. Many ladies have concerns over taking a fasting glucose test whilst breast feeding, or attending for blood tests whilst their newborn is still very young. If you have these concerns then you may want to opt for a HbA1c blood test after 13 weeks post-partum. You do not need to fast and it is one simple blood test that can be taken at your local GP surgery. High levels after giving birth You should eat a normal diet following the birth of your baby. Some hospitals will advise to continue testing blood sugar levels after giving birth. Be prepa Continue reading >>
