Gestational Diabetes And Supplements

Gestational Diabetes and Supplements

• Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce or not utilized insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone helps to convert sugars, starches & other foods into the energy needed for daily life.
• Insulin produced from beta cells of the pancreas.
• Types of diabetes:
• Pre-diabetes
• Type I diabetes
• Type II diabetes
• Malnutrition-related diabetes
• Gestational diabetes
• Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed after 24 weeks of gestation and mainly affects 5% to l0% of all pregnant women. But symptoms are similar to those of diabetes mellitus, including glycosuria and elevated blood glucose as well as blood pressure; there is also a greater likelihood of developing preeclampsia.
• Infants whose mothers have gestational diabetes are at increased risk for perinatal mortality, as well as for prematurity. If the mother’s blood glucose is not well controlled, the infant is at risk for macrosomia, or infant birth weight greater than the 90^th percentile or 4000 g. Women who have experienced gestational diabetes are at future risk for type II diabetes mellitus.
• Causes of gestational diabetes:
• During  the pregnancy, a hormone produced from placenta can make cells throughout the body more resistant to insulin. The placenta produces more of these hormones as pregnancy progresses making it harder for insulin to unlock cells so that glucose can enter easily.
• It mainly occurs last three months, of the pregnancy because of the higher hormone secretion from the placenta.
• Risk factors during  gestational diabetes
• a Family history of diabetes.
• Diabetes in previous pregnancy etc.
• Gestational diabetes is treated through dietary changes of calorie restriction and moderate exercise to maintain appropriate weight gain.
• Limiting sweets & carbohydrate rich foods.
• Eating three small meals and two to three snacks daily.
• Eat fiber rich foods like whole fruits, whole grain flour, and vegetables.
• Choose foods which are low glycemic index.
• Insulin is used if glucose levels do not respond to diet.
• Blood glucose levels are often monitored four to six times a day with a goal of less than 90 g/dl for fasting and less than 120 mg/dl after meals.
• Supplements:
• Take prenatal vitamin by doctors prescribed.
• Take fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids for nervous system development of a new-born baby.
• Bitter gourd, cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic

So, gestational diabetes is a type of pregnancy. And need to care properly.