What if glucose is high during pregnancy

Low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming for 30 minutes a day can make a large impact on balancing glucose levels. Patients who are unable to control their glucose levels could need to try medication to aide throughout the rest of their pregnancy. It is important for a patient to discuss her feelings and any side effects of gestational diabetes medication with a doctor while on them.

Read more about your pregnancy journey. Locations in Southbridge and Spencer. Possible outcomes include a large baby, more chance of a cesarean delivery , and a slightly higher risk of fetal and neonatal death. Babies born to mothers with diabetes need their blood sugar levels monitored after birth.

Low blood sugars can result in newborn babies from mothers with any type of diabetes, and this can lead to problems for your baby, including seizures, Dr. Chapa says. However, you can still have a healthy baby if you focus on good habits. To ensure stable blood sugar levels:. For most women, blood sugar levels return to normal after delivery, but your doctor will likely check them during the postpartum period.

If a woman has gestational diabetes, she also has a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. About half of women with gestational diabetes will have type 2 diabetes in 10 years, so it is important for your primary care physician to closely monitor your blood sugars. Gestational diabetes provides a warning for many women that they may on the way to developing type 2 diabetes, and it gives them a chance to make changes in their diet, weight if they need to lose , and exercise to help prevent them from getting this disease.

They may start to make your body resistant to insulin , the hormone that regulates your blood sugar. In pregnancy, your body naturally becomes slightly insulin resistant, so that more glucose is available in your blood stream to be passed to the baby.

If the insulin resistance becomes too strong, your blood glucose levels may rise abnormally. This can cause gestational diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association ADA encourages doctors to routinely screen pregnant women for signs of gestational diabetes. If your blood sugar level is high, your doctor may perform a three-hour oral glucose tolerance test. This is considered two-step testing. Some doctors skip the glucose challenge test altogether and only perform a two-hour glucose tolerance test. This is considered one-step testing. The threshold for determining this is decided by your doctor.

The ADA also encourages doctors to screen women for type 2 diabetes at the beginning of pregnancy. If you have risk factors for type 2 diabetes, your doctor will likely test you for the condition at your first prenatal visit. Class A1 is used to describe gestational diabetes that can be controlled through diet alone.

People with class A2 gestational diabetes will need insulin or oral medications to control their condition. In most cases, your doctor will advise you to test your blood sugar before and after meals, and manage your condition by eating healthy and exercising regularly.

In some cases, they may also add insulin injections if needed. According to the Mayo Clinic , only 10 to 20 percent of women with gestational diabetes need insulin to help control their blood sugar. If your doctor encourages you to monitor your blood sugar levels , they may supply you with a special glucose-monitoring device. They may also prescribe insulin injections for you until you give birth. Ask your doctor about properly timing your insulin injections in relation to your meals and exercise to avoid low blood sugar.

Your doctor can also tell you what to do if your blood sugar levels fall too low or are consistently higher than they should be. A balanced diet is key to properly managing gestational diabetes. In particular, women with gestational diabetes should pay special attention to their carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake. Eating regularly — as often as every two hours — can also help you to control your blood sugar levels.

Properly spacing out carbohydrate-rich foods will help to prevent blood sugar spikes. Your doctor will help you determine exactly how many carbohydrates you should eat each day. They may also recommend that you see a registered dietician to help with meal plans.