How to Manage Diabetes During Pregancy?

Natural remedies like Krishna’s Diabic Care Juice are usually helpful in managing type 2 diabetes. But during pregnancy, your body responds differently. Every decision needs to be made with double care.

Let’s understand how to manage diabetes during this phase.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

More than 1 in 20 women have gestational diabetes, aka diabetes during pregnancy.

When blood sugar levels during pregnancy get too high, it is called gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes usually appears between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, but sometimes it can occur earlier or later as well.

During pregnancy, your placenta releases hormones, which block your body’s ability to use or make insulin. Insulin’s job is to help your body keep your blood sugar levels on target.  Because of this, blood sugar levels start to rise, which can become a risk for both the mother and the baby.

If gestational diabetes is not managed, it can cause problems during pregnancy, like the baby being a high birth weight, premature delivery, or other complications during delivery. That’s why managing diabetes during pregnancy becomes very important.

Risk Factors and Screening for Gestational Diabetes

Usually, in pregnancy, your doctor advises screening for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks. But if you have some specific risk factors, the doctor may ask you to get screened earlier. These risk factors are:

• Age (older than 25)
• Family history of Type 2 diabetes
• History of diabetes in previous pregnancies
• BMI (Body Mass Index) above 30
• Heart disease or high blood pressure
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Prediabetes

The test to detect gestational diabetes is the oral glucose tolerance test.

First, you’ll be given a sweet drink that contains 50 grams of glucose. You have to drink it all at once. After that, you’ll need to wait for 1 hour. Then, a blood sample is taken to check how efficiently your body processes glucose.

If your blood sugar level comes out high, you’ll need to take a second, slightly longer test. In this test, you have to fast (no food or drink beforehand), then you’ll be given a drink containing 100 grams of glucose, and your blood sugar will be tested every hour for a total of 3 times. If the test findings are abnormal, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

During pregnancy, your body goes through something new every day: fatigue, mood swings, cravings, swelling, it’s all a fresh experience. That’s why gestational diabetes symptoms often get ignored or confused with normal pregnancy changes. But if you pay close attention, your body actually starts giving some clear signals.

Here are some common symptoms that could be signs of gestational diabetes:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Tiredness

Ways to Manage Gestational Diabetes

Having gestational diabetes is not a big thing, but you do need to be a little careful. If you have been diagnosed, then don’t worry, just follow your diet, lifestyle, and the treatment plan given by your doctor. Today, we will talk in detail about how you can make your pregnancy healthy and safe.

1. Pay Attention to Your Diet

The very first step is to manage your diet properly. During diabetes, food directly affects blood sugar, so include those things in your meals that keep your blood sugar under control.

Avoid white bread, sweets, chips, fried things, cold drinks, and processed foods. These easily increase blood sugar.

Start your day with a protein-rich breakfast like low-fat paneer, sprouts, tofu, or moong dal chilla. For fibre, you can take oats, fruits, or whole grain bread. Fibre slows digestion and keeps sugar levels controlled.

Eat small and frequent meals. A very large meal at once can spike your blood sugar. So take 4-5 small meals daily so your sugar level stays steady.

2. Control Diabetes Through Physical Activity

Exercise plays a very important role during pregnancy, especially if you have gestational diabetes. Physical activity helps insulin work well, which keeps blood sugar levels under control.

Walk daily for 20-30 minutes every day. Walk at your own pace, but make sure to be regular.

Do pregnancy yoga or stretching exercises if you are comfortable. These will relax your muscles and improve blood flow.

Disclaimer: Every pregnancy is different, so it’s very important to take advice from your doctor or physiotherapist about which exercises are safe for you.

3. Support from Your Doctor is Necessary

Not only you, but doctors, dietitians, and diabetes educators help you keep your pregnancy safe. So, go to your doctor regularly during pregnancy to monitor your blood sugar, blood pressure, and baby’s growth.

Consult a dietitian to make a personalised diet plan for you that considers both your diabetes and pregnancy. They understand what a person’s right portion sizes and nutrient requirements are.

If you have been prescribed insulin injections, learn from your diabetes educators how to inject them and how to check your blood sugar.

Talk to a counsellor or psychologist if you are stressed or anxious about your situation.

4. Proper Use of Medication

Not every gestational diabetes patient needs medicines or insulin, but if the doctor has prescribed it, then using it properly is very important.

Some women need to take insulin, which controls blood sugar. Never increase or decrease your insulin dose on your own; always do it with your doctor’s advice.

In some cases, doctors may recommend oral diabetes medicines, but during pregnancy, these medicines should only be taken under a doctor’s supervision.

Along with medication, pay attention to diet and exercise: Even after taking medicine, it is important to maintain diet and exercise because these three together keep blood sugar best controlled.

5. Pay Attention to Hydration and Rest

Drinking water is very important while managing gestational diabetes. Water speeds up your metabolism and keeps sugar level controlled. So, don’t forget to drink water.

You can also take coconut water, which has natural electrolytes and helps increase hydration.

Sleeping is difficult at this time, but still try to get full sleep, even if you have to take naps during the day. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep so that both you and your baby stay healthy.

6. Completely Avoid Smoking and Alcohol

If you are pregnant and have diabetes, stay completely away from smoking and alcohol. Smoking is very harmful to the baby and can increase the risk of stillbirth or premature birth. Alcohol consumption also negatively affects a baby’s growth and can make sugar control difficult.

Conclusion

After pregnancy ends, most women’s gestational diabetes gets cured, but in some cases, it may persist. For those whose blood sugar levels remain high even after delivery, doctors continue their medication.

For women whose blood sugar levels return to normal, it is always important to stay careful about their health. Because after having gestational diabetes, the chances of high blood pressure, heart diseases, and Type 2 diabetes increase.

To manage these risks, you can consider natural remedies after pregnancy, such as Krishna’s Diabic Care Juice. But always use it only after consulting your Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor. And yes, along with this, your diet, lifestyle, and physical activity remain essential to reduce your health risks and live a happy life.