Do you think you are at a high risk of getting gestational diabetes? If yes, then you don't need to get worked up, as there are lots of gestational diabetes treatments available. So, if you want to learn about gestational diabetes and how it can be treated, keep reading.
If you get gestational diabetes, your blood sugar levels have to be controlled. Also, your doctor shall closely monitor your pregnancy journey and labor. You can control your gestational diabetes in various ways, like following a healthy diet, exercising, and taking medicines.
You must seek medical help if you get gestational diabetes so that it doesn't turn into a healthy complication in the future. Let's get further into the blog and learn about all gestational diabetes diagnoses and the different gestational diabetes treatments we can receive.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
This is a type of diabetes wherein a pregnant woman's blood sugar levels rise. Gestational diabetes usually shows up in 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy and can happen to anyone regardless of whether or not you've had diabetes before pregnancy. In the United States, 2 to 10% of women have a risk of getting gestational diabetes.
The main reason behind gestational diabetes is the hormonal changes occurring in a pregnant woman's body. Insulin is responsible for keeping our blood glucose levels healthy; however, in cases of diabetes, the insulin doesn't work right. During pregnancy, your insulin might not regulate your blood sugar levels properly. In addition to that, your genes and your weight during pregnancy have effects too.
What are the Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes?
Most of the time, you won't feel any symptoms of gestational diabetes, which is why you need to get a routine checkup in the 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. The doctor will be able to help you identify if you have diabetes. However, some women do show subtle signs of diabetes, such as
- You might feel more thirsty than usual, so you should eat, and you'll notice that you're feeling thirsty even when you haven't eaten anything. Moreover, you might also notice that you are always craving a glass of water.
- If you feel fatigued and more tired than usual, then you must check with your doctor for diabetes. You might notice that you're feeling sick or tired even before your day starts, which can be a sign of gestational diabetes.
- You can also feel like you're having a dry mouth continuously. This gets worse when combined with feeling thirsty. You will feel parched most of the time in case you're getting gestational diabetes.
What are Gestational Diabetes Treatments?
If you have gestational diabetes, your doctor will have to monitor your pregnancy closely so that you and your baby remain healthy. Here are some of how you can get gestational diabetes treatments:
Check Blood Sugar Level
You must keep your blood sugar level in check at all times. Your doctor shall provide you with a testing kit so that you can use it to check your glucose levels correctly. Doctors would usually advise you to test yourself before breakfast or one hour after each meal. You can then share the results with your care team so that they can guide you on your progress.
Healthy Diet
If you make healthy changes to your lifestyle, then you can control your blood sugar levels well. Here are some changes you need to make to your lifestyle:
- You should eat three meals regularly and on time. You should completely avoid skipping meals.
- You must eat starchy foods like brown rice, whole wheat pasta, bread, pulses, cereals, and more. You should also switch to lean sources of proteins like fish.
- Your meals should consist of fruits and vegetables, and also avoid sugary foods. You should eat fruits, nuts, and seeds instead of things like cakes or biscuits. You should check the label for sugary content.
Exercises
In cases of gestational diabetes, physical exercise helps the person. You should make sure to move about and try different exercises because they help you manage your gestational diabetes. During pregnancy, you must make sure to only do safe exercises. You can always take the help of a fitness trainer to prescribe what's best for you.
Medicines
One of the most common gestational diabetes treatments is medicines, which your doctor will write for you. They generally prescribe gestational diabetes medication in cases where your blood sugar levels are high. They could also prescribe diabetes injections for you to take. Metformin is a tablet that doctors prescribe when you have high blood glucose levels.
What are Some Gestational Diabetes Home Remedies?
What's better than trying out some home remedies that you use as gestational diabetes treatments? Natural products are safe and cost-effective to try. So let's look at some home remedies you can try for diabetes:
- You need to cut on your carbs and go for a low-carb diet. Your diet should be rich in healthy proteins and fats. Such foods help stabilize your blood sugar, balance your hormones, and decrease insulin resistance in your body.
- You should also go for foods that are anti-inflammatory, such as olive oil, fatty fish, and more. You must switch to healthy fats because inflammatory foods can cause chronic diabetes in people.
- Women who have low Vitamin D content in their bodies often get gestational diabetes. So, one of the best natural gestational diabetes treatments is replenishing the vitamin D content in your body.
- Magnesium helps your blood sugar levels remain in check, so you must ensure that you eat foods rich in magnesium. You should make sure that you boost the magnesium levels in your body.
- You must ensure that you are getting proper sleep every day. Low sleep results in activating the stress hormones, which are insulin-sensitive. This can also raise the risk of your diabetes and make you sicker.
- You should also introduce Ayurveda in your life. For instance, you can try out some of the lifestyle changes that Ayurveda recommends. You should also add turmeric powder, bitter gourd, and barley to your diet.
- Curry leaves have antioxidants, which can reverse the risk of diabetes. You can also mix them with fenugreek seeds and cinnamon for better absorption. You can add all of these ingredients and prepare a smoothie to drink.
Also Read: What Are The Side Effects Of Diabetes One Should Know About?
Conclusion
As discussed above, there are several gestational diabetes treatments that you can avail in case your doctor diagnoses you with diabetes. You should never ignore the signs of gestational diabetes and seek help from a medical professional so that you can fight the disease effectively and recover in no time.
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