Exercise and Gestational Diabetes

It’s wonderful to see, now more than ever, pregnant women working out. We have come a long way from “put your feet up, relax and eat”. Although we were told to do that with the best of intentions, it turns out after years of further research that staying sedentary during pregnancy only brought on more problems than not.

One concern is the development of Gestational Diabetes. This condition is diagnosed when women develop high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that are needed during pregnancy. Some of these are insulin resistant so this requires the pancreas (which is responsible for making insulin) to work even harder during pregnancy. For some women, however, this is not enough and Gestational Diabetes develops. Women who are at a higher risk for developing Gestational Diabetes are obese, have a family history of Diabetes or have delivered a large baby previously. The risks associated with diabetes and pregnancy can be miscarriage and abnormalities in the early stages or your baby could develop low blood sugar levels, jaundice or be very large which can cause complications with delivery.

After delivery, Gestational diabetes usually clears up because the placenta is removed as are the hormones that were creating the insulin resistance. Although this is common for most women, there is an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes again in subsequent pregnancies and/or Type II diabetes later in life. This is a good reason to continue to exercise and eat well after pregnancy to avoid further health problems and create a good example and lifestyle for your baby.

So what can you do to help or avoid developing this condition? Exercise and proper nutrition. These alone are probably the most important factors in controlling Gestational Diabetes, Type 1 and Type II. Daily exercise will help to keep blood sugar levels normal. If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and you are not used to exercising daily, start with 5-10 minutes per day and slowly increase until you reach at least 30 minutes, most days of the week. Proper nutrition is also a must when dealing with diabetes, pregnant or not. Stay away from simple sugars, refined white flour and try and get a copy of a low glycemic food list. These foods will not elevate your blood levels and tend to keep you satiated because they mostly consist of whole grain foods, lean proteins and fruits and vegetables. If you have done all you can and you still cannot keep you blood levels down, you may need insulin injections. Oral medications are not recommended during pregnancy as it is not known what the effects may be on the baby.

So try and keep this in mind whether you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant now and you are leading an inactive, unhealthy lifestyle. Although excess weight and family history play a role, everyone is at risk due to the hormonal needs during pregnancy. Start today by making a good choice and add a new one each day until a daily habit is created.

Name :

Mail :

Website :

Message :