Top 5 Ways To Control Diabetes During Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes generally goes away after your baby’s birth. However, it is important to screen for sugar levels to avoid complications during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause potential complications to both mother in fetus in several ways. Mothers who are obese, physically inactive, have a history of diabetes, have a history of cardiovascular diseases, have a history of gestational diabetes, and with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) are at risk of having gestational diabetes (1). 

Why is it Necessary to Control Sugar Levels in Pregnancy?

It is crucial to control blood sugar levels in both types of diabetic pregnancies. To reduce risks for pregnant women and the fetus, proper treatment and care are needed throughout the diabetic pregnancy. Diabetes during pregnancy can give way to high levels of sugar that can accumulate in the blood and can affect the fetus throughout the pregnancy.

Poorly controlled diabetes can put women at risk. It increases the risk of having an overweight baby, which is known as Macrosomia. Such a condition is developed because the excess sugar in the mother’s blood reaches the fetus or embryo through the placenta.

Hence, the fetus starts producing extra insulin and stores it as fat. These babies are more prone to childhood obesity (2a), jaundice, and breathing difficulties.

[Read : Risks For The Baby If The Mother Has Diabetes]

Top 5 Tips to Control Diabetes During Pregnancy

To have limited maternal and fetal complications in pregnant women, the below top 5 remedies will prove helpful for controlling and managing diabetes during your pregnancy

1. Scrutinize Your Blood Sugar Levels

It is important to keep the blood sugar levels under control throughout the pregnancy. Therefore, keep the blood sugar test kit at home and test your blood sugar at certain times of the day.

Testing it regularly will help you to determine whether your diet regime and exercise pattern are giving you the desired results or not. You can keep a record of all the tests and then take them to your specialist so that the doctor can determine if any change in the treatment plan is required or not (2b).

2. Exercise Regularly

Do some regular physical activities as it decreases the risk of gestational diabetes. Be physically active throughout your pregnancy. Even in normal pregnancy, doctors advise would-be mothers some regular physical activity, but in the case of diabetic mothers, studies state that a 30-60 minute aerobic exercise activity can help control diabetes (3). You can also do prenatal yoga (4) or pranayama which will also prove beneficial for your health (5).

Aim for safe and light exercises like brisk walking and low-impact aerobics. Regular exercise can also prove beneficial in relieving backaches, fatigue, and posture problems, which are quite common during pregnancy. Ask your doctors to suggest some exercise programs according to the trimesters of your pregnancy. Never start a new exercise regime without consulting the doctor.

[Read : 10 Amazing Benefits Of Prenatal Yoga]

3. Healthy Diet for Diabetic Pregnancy

Eating a healthy and well-planned diet should be your mantra during pregnancy. Try eating small, frequent meals throughout the day. Choose your food wisely as it must contain the correct balance of fiber, vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats (6). 

For you, it’s better to avoid greasily, fried, and sugary food like cookies, ice creams, chocolates, soda, and cakes. Also, drink plenty of water – approximately 9-10 glasses during the day. To keep a tab on your glucose level, it’s very important not to skip meals, especially your breakfast.

All the diet regimes can be a little difficult to follow, but don’t think of it as a restrictive diet, be positive and think of it as a healthier way for your eating habits. 

[Read : Indian Diet Plan For Pregnancy With Gestational Diabetes]

4. Medications

In case of unmanageable gestational diabetes, your doctors may suggest medications. Take your medicines on time as prescribed by your doctor. Your medicine plan may need to change. Studies suggest that proper dietary and pharmacological management can help in leading a maternal and fetal complication-free pregnancy (7). This is because hormonal changes happen during the second and third trimesters.

If you want, you can also opt for some Ayurvedic help available for gestational diabetes (8). Opt the herbs that are effective and don’t have any side effects. Gurmar, Guduchi, neem, and Ashwagandha are good (9). However, the best way is to consult an Ayurveda physician so that he can decide your dose accordingly. Never opt for OTC medications without the prior consent of a doctor.

5. Regular Antenatal Appointments

Whatever type of diabetes you have in pregnancy, you must have more frequent antenatal appointments with your doctor to check your and your baby’s progress. These appointments are very helpful in detecting any abnormalities in the early stages.

You will be offered advice, diet plans, and treatments based on these appointments only, so it’s important to be regular and sincere towards them. Make it a point never to skip prenatal appointments, as these are crucial for a healthy baby and a healthy you.

Hope these Top 5 Ways To Control Diabetes During Pregnancy were helpful. Since ancient times, it has been emphasized to place enormous importance on mother and child care during and after pregnancy. 

During pregnancy, a woman goes through many physical and emotional changes, everything changes for her, her clothes, belly size, speed of her heart, a few extra kilos, swollen ankles, the list is long. However, with proper care and timely treatment, high-risk pregnancies can also be risk-free.

FAQ’s

1. How Can I Control My Sugar Levels During Pregnancy?

Gestational diabetes may sound very prevalent these days, but improper management can lead to antenatal and postpartum maternal and fetal complications. Hence, it is important to get your sugar levels screened on time, take dietary changes seriously, exercise regularly, and stick to the medications that your doctors prescribe to control gestational diabetes. 

2. What Happens If I Ignore Gestational Diabetes?

It is important to address gestational diabetes and manage it accordingly. Ignorance can lead to macrosomia in babies, preterm deliveries, sometimes stillbirth, and an increased risk of having diabetes for the mother after delivery.

3. Does Sugar During Pregnancy Affect My Baby?

Untreated gestational diabetes can cause complications for both the mother and the fetus. Conditions like macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycemia, fetal distress, and even still-birth can happen. Hence, it is very important to address gestational diabetes and get it treated on time. 

References:

1. Gestational Diabetes – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545196/]
2. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Risks and Management during and after Pregnancy – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4404707/]
3. Exercise guidelines for gestational diabetes mellitus – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515443/]
4. The effects of mindfulness eating and yoga exercise on blood sugar levels of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24629718/]
5. Physiological effects of yoga asanas and pranayama on metabolic parameters, maternal, and fetal outcome in gestational diabetes – [https://www.njppp.com/fulltext/28-1489210622.pdf]
6. Diet and Healthy Lifestyle in the Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus – [https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/10/3050]
7. Gestational Diabetes: Overview with Emphasis on Medical Management – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7767324/]
8. A Case Study on Ayurvedic Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus – [https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/688]
9. GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS; MANAGEMENT THROUGH AYURVEDA – [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339041787_GESTATIONAL_DIABETES_MELLITUS_MANAGEMENT_THROUGH_AYURVEDA]

Read Also: Is It Possible To Have Natural Delivery With Gestational Diabetes?