You Should Be Tested For Diabetes After Pregnancy
After you deliver the baby, you still need to monitor your blood sugar. You should be tested for diabetes six to twelve weeks after the baby is born. After that, you should get tested every one to three years. Half of all women who had gestational diabetes later develop type 2 diabetes. Continuing to eat well and exercise can reduce your risk.
At Green Valley OB/GYN, we want to make sure you and your future baby get the best care possible to promote good health for you both. If you have concerns about pregnancy, whether it be gestational diabetes or something else, call us at 378-1110 to schedule an appointment.;
Tips On How To Pass The Glucose Tolerance Test During Pregnancy
People sometimes ask how to pass the glucose tolerance test. But heres the truth: theres no passing or failing. If youre diabetic, the test will find outand truly, thats important for you and your baby, so you can get the treatment you need to prevent problems. And if youre not, youre not. So no trying to cheat the system here.
But we do have some tips for taking the glucose tolerance test:
- Schedule your appointment for first thing in the morning: Youre not likely to worry about the fact that youre fasting while youre asleep. Then, you can get up, go immediately to your appointment and be done before lunch time.
- Really do the fasting: It may seem like no biggie to have a midnight snack or a little bite of breakfast. But resist the urge! You really dont want to end up with inaccurate or inconclusive results and have to do this gestational diabetes test all over again.
- Drink water: Yes, youre allowed to have small sips of water while youre fasting. Hey, at least its something!
- Keep yourself busy: Bring plenty to keep you occupieda book, magazines, podcasts and/or music with earbuds. Three hours in a waiting room is really not fun without distractions.
- Make your meal plan: Youre going to be ravenous and want to eat ASAP after that last blood draw. Plot out the nearest place to grab a quick snack or meal afterward. Or better yet, pack snacks and leave them in your bag or your car to grab as soon as you leave.
How Do You Manage Gestational Diabetes
If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes it is important that you are supported and know what to do to manage it. Health professionals such as your doctor, a dietitian, a diabetes nurse educator or sometimes a diabetes specialist will help you understand what to do and will support you.;
Family also can be a great support. It is important that your family understands about gestational diabetes and how it is managed.
Management of gestational diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels in the recommended range during pregnancy. This can prevent problems during birth and also helps reduce the babys risk of being overweight in childhood and developing type 2 diabetes later in life.;
Management of gestational diabetes involves:
- monitoring blood glucose levels
Some women may need insulin injections to help manage their gestational diabetes.
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Causes Of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is hypothesized to develop as a result of numerous hormonal and non-hormonal changes. It occurs in the body during pregnancy, which predisposes certain women to become insulin resistant. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas by specialized cells that allow the body to effectively digest glucose for later use as fuel . Blood glucose levels rise when insulin levels are low or when the body is unable to utilize insulin effectively .
Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes does not usually cause any symptoms.
Most cases are only discovered when your blood sugar levels are tested during;screening for gestational diabetes.
Some;women may develop;symptoms if their blood sugar levels gets too high;,;such as:
- needing to pee more often than usual
- a dry mouth
- tiredness
But some of these symptoms are common during pregnancy and are not necessarily a sign of gestational diabetes. Speak to your midwife or doctor if you’re worried about any symptoms you’re experiencing.
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About Diabetes In Pregnancy
Whenever we eat, a hormone called insulin helps move the sugar from our food through our blood and into our muscles, where it is turned into energy to help us move.
When you are pregnant, your body produces lots of other hormones to help your baby grow. Some of these hormones can stop insulin working well. This causes sugar to build up in your blood because it cant get to your muscles. You have diabetes when you have too much sugar in your blood.
Pregnancy diabetes generally goes away after your baby is born, though it leaves you with more chance of developing diabetes again later in life.
Other Aspects Of Your Care
- As you get closer to your due date, you may have a harder time staying in your target blood sugar range. You may need to take insulin or diabetes medicine.
- If you were overweight before you became pregnant, do not try to lose weight while you are pregnant. Ask your doctor how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy.
- Your doctor may have you check kick counts and let him or her know if you think your baby has been moving less than usual.
- If you take insulin, it can cause your blood sugar to drop below the target range. Even though very low blood sugar is rare in women who have gestational diabetes, it is important to know the symptoms of low blood sugar and have glucose or sucrose tablets or solution or quick-sugar foods with you at all times.
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More Than One Test May Be Needed For Diagnosis
There are a couple of tests used to determine whether a woman has gestational diabetes. The first is called a Glucose Challenge Test. Depending on the results of this first test, a second test called a Glucose Tolerance Test may be necessary.
For the glucose challenge test, you do not need to fast before the appointment. There are two steps for this test:
- At the beginning of the appointment, youll be given about five ounces of a glucose solution to drink. The solution is syrupy and some women may find they do not like the taste.
- You stay in the office or lab setting for an hour to wait to have your blood tested. After the hour is up, blood is drawn from a vein in your arm. The blood will then be tested to see your blood sugar level.
If your blood sugar is too high , you might have gestational diabetes. To confirm the diagnosis, you will need to have a different test done.;
The second test will be a glucose tolerance test. This test differs from the glucose challenge test in several ways even if the general idea is the same. For example, the glucose tolerance test takes three hours instead of just one and you must fast before the appointment. Then the process is as follows:
- A blood sample is taken at the beginning to determine fasting blood sugar.
- You will drink about eight ounces of the glucose solution.
- Your blood glucose level will be tested again one, two and three hours after you drink the solution.;
Random Blood Sugar Test
A physician takes a blood sample at any time, and not necessarily when fasting. People who have serious diabetes symptoms may have this test. If blood glucose levels are 200 mg/dL at any time, this indicates that diabetes is present.
People with diabetes should monitor their blood glucose levels regularly, using a home testing kit or continuous glucose monitor.
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Oral Glucose Challenge Test
If you are not at high risk of diabetes in pregnancy, your;midwife ;will offer you an oral glucose challenge test when you are between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. This test measures how well your body can process sugar. You can have this test at any time of the day.
For this test, youll drink a sugary drink and then wait 1 hour before giving a blood sample. You will not need to do anything special before or after the test. Most people do not have side effects from the oral glucose challenge test.
What Are The Symptoms
Because gestational diabetes may not cause symptoms, it is important for you to be tested for gestational diabetes.
Sometimes a pregnant woman who has symptoms has been living with another type of diabetes without knowing it. If you have symptoms from another type of diabetes, they may include:
- Increased thirst.
- Increased hunger.
- Blurred vision.
Pregnancy causes most women to urinate more often and to feel more hungry. So having these symptoms doesn’t always mean that a woman has diabetes. Talk with your doctor if you have these symptoms, so that you can be tested for diabetes at any time during pregnancy.
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Gestational Diabetes Test: The Aftermath
Like I said earlier, some women struggle to keep the drink down. This is rarer though- youll probably keep it down just fine. But that doesnt mean you wont have side effects!
I felt pretty shaky and had a pretty crazy sugar rush for a couple of hours. You may feel a little sick or nauseous after drinking it. Dont feel bad if you need to take some time off! Either way, the side effects arent too bad and youll feel better in no time.
After you get your blood drawn and the test is over, youll typically hear your results in a couple of days. More likely than not, youre all clear!
What Causes Blood Sugar To Be High
Many things can cause high blood sugar , including being sick, being stressed, eating more than planned, and not giving yourself enough insulin. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to long-term, serious health problems. Symptoms of high blood sugar include:
- Feeling very tired.
- Having blurry vision.
- Needing to urinate more often.
If you get sick, your blood sugar can be hard to manage. You may not be able to eat or drink as much as usual, which can affect blood sugar levels. If youre ill and your blood sugar is 240 mg/dL or above, use an over-the-counter ketone test kit to check your urine for ketones and call your doctor if your ketones are high. High ketones can be an early sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency and needs to be treated immediately.
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Can Gestational Diabetes Be Prevented
Its not possible to prevent gestational diabetes entirely. However, adopting healthy habits can reduce your chances of developing the condition.
If youre pregnant and have one of the risk factors for gestational diabetes, try to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Even light activity, such as walking, may be beneficial.
If youre planning to become pregnant in the near future and youre overweight, one of the best things you can do is work with your doctor to lose weight. Even losing a small amount of weight can help you reduce your risk of gestational diabetes.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
The OGTT measures blood glucose after you fast for at least 8 hours. First, a health care professional will draw your blood. Then you will drink the liquid containing glucose. You will need your blood drawn every hour for 2 to 3 hours for a doctor to diagnose gestational diabetes.
High blood glucose levels at any two or more blood test timesfasting, 1 hour, 2 hours, or 3 hoursmean you have gestational diabetes. Your health care team will explain what your OGTT results mean.
Your health care professional may recommend an OGTT without first having the glucose challenge test.
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What Is The Glucose Tolerance Test
At around 28 weeks pregnant, women who consent are screened for gestational diabetes mellitus aka GDM by completing the GTT test.
If you happen to have any history or complexities that would put you at increased likelihood of having GDM, you will be offered this test earlier in the first trimester, and again at 28 weeks.
The GTT has several steps. First, you have to fast overnight, then your fasting blood glucose is tested by blood test, you then will be given the GTT drink and asked to sit and wait to have your blood glucose tested again at one hour and two hours post drink.
The drink itself comes in many variations green, clear, orange it just depends on what is stocked where you get your GTT done.
But they are all the same test 75 grams of glucose. I thought mine tasted like fizzy lime cordial, some Mamas say its more like flat lemonade.
The test is looking at how your body responds to a high glucose load.
The test will be negative if all three blood glucose tests are within normal range.
If any one of these tests are elevated, GDM is diagnosed.;
They Both Contain A Sugary Solution And Both Check For The Same Condition
Signs of gestational diabetes in third trimester: Click to see full answer. 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. At that point, you can decide to talk to your gp for further advice and a further test that might need to be done either at the gp surgery or local hospital. So even if the ogtt shows that you don't have gestational diabetes, talk to your midwife if you go on to develop any symptoms. Women who had gestational diabetes during one pregnancy are at greater risk of developing it in a subsequent pregnancy. "after a woman with gestational diabetes delivers her baby, her doctor will check her blood glucose levels at six to eight weeks postpartum," I originally posted in r/pregnant and was suggested i post here as well. gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar that can affect your pregnancy and your baby's health. There's also a two part test that is much like the one i've talked about above. Your health care team can show you how to use your meter. Every year, 2% to 10% of pregnancies in the united states are affected by gestational diabetes. Very much like type 2 diabetes, it happens when your body does not make enough insulin, or can't use insulin well, to regulate blood glucose levels.
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Gestational Diabetes: 8 Facts You Need To Know
If you are trying to get pregnant or are currently in the early stages of pregnancy, you probably have concerns about certain pregnancy-related health issues and risks. One condition that many mothers have heard of and are concerned about is gestational diabetes.
According to the CDC, gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes seen in a pregnant woman who did not have diabetes prior to pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to process sugar and convert it into energy. This leads to high glucose levels in the blood .;
If you have concerns about gestational diabetes, it is best to consult your doctor. But there are some important things you should know about it in the meantime.;
Attend Routine Care Appointment
During pregnancy, a woman should see a gynecologist for routine treatment. The doctor will inquire about the pregnancy and any new symptoms throughout these appointments.Theyll also perform a pelvic exam and examine the developing fetus with an ultrasound.
Some of the early indicators of gestational diabetes may be recognized by a doctor. He will ask you for gestational diabetes treatment or propose some strategies to help in preventing it.;A pregnant lady will get a gestational diabetes screening between the ages of 24 and 28 weeks. If the results show that she has gestational diabetes, the doctor will discuss ways to avoid further difficulties.
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Who Is At Risk Of Gestational Diabetes
Between three and eight per cent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. It is usually detected around weeks 24 to 28 of pregnancy, although it can develop earlier. Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be both unexpected and upsetting.
Certain women are at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. This includes women who:
- are over 40 years of age
- have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- are overweight or obese
- thrush .;
Risks And Side Effects
Most people do not experience any side effects from glucose testing, and serious complications are rare.
As it involves fasting and blood testing, the glucose tolerance test might cause nausea, light-headedness, shortness of breath, and sweating in some people.
The doctor uses a needle to draw the blood, so the injection may cause moderate pain for some.
More serious but less common risks include:
- excessive bleeding
The glucose tolerance test is not the only way to diagnose diabetes. Doctors use other tests to diagnose and monitor the condition.
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Choose Healthy Carbohydrates Instead
Complex or unrefined carbohydrates such as whole grain breads and cereals, whole fresh fruits and even baked potatoes are absorbed more slowly into your bloodstream and are less likely to give you the large sugar jolts that can result in excess glucose filtering into your urine.
In fact, since complex carbohydrates contain more fiber, they actually slow the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream. Whats more, they provide lots of;essential nutrients for pregnancy;.