That Pesky Glucose Thing, Part Three

Gestational Diabetes:: "a form of diabetes that appears only during pregnancy - occurs when the body does not produce adequate amounts of insulin (the hormone that lets the body turn blood sugar into energy) to regular blood sugar effectively." (What to Expect When You're Expecting, 546)

Facts about Gestational Diabetes:

• 10% of all pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes
• It is most common among obese women, older moms-to-be, women with a family history, and certain ethnic groups like Native Americans, Latin Americans, and African Americans
• There are several signs of GD: excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, sugar in the urine, blurred vision, slow healing sores, and numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• Usually shows up between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy
• Carbohydrate foods, psychological stress, and illness can raise blood glucose
• Physical activity, insulin, and glyburide (a diabetes pill) can all lower blood glucose
• GD can cause a bigger baby, but no causes no developmental issues.
• Can cause a harder delivery because the baby is bigger, so there is a greater risk of a C-section.
• There is a 90% of GD showing back up in any future pregnancies.
• Uncontrolled GD can lead to problems for the baby after birth: jaundice, breathing difficulties, and low blood sugar levels. There is also an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes
• There is a 20%-50% of developing type 2 diabetes for women who develop GD during pregnancy.
• GD usually disappears after birth and things return to normal. 

Dealing with Gestational Diabetes:

(I should mention that this is information as it applies to me specifically. Don't try and base your GD diet off what was suggested to me for dealing with it.)

• Take blood sugar levels four times a day: First thing in the morning as a fasting level then 2 hours after each meal
• Before breakfast (fasting) levels should be 60-95 mg/dL
• 2 hours after the start of the meal should be less than 120 mg/dL
• Need to eat 2200g calories a day (Even more needed for me because I haven't gained much weight)
• Only need to keep track of total carbohydrates. 
• Need to eat 220g of carbs a day
• Also need to make sure to eat up to 16 ounces of protein a day
• Need to keep track of meals and snacks, only eating a certain amount of grams per meal
• Breakfast: 30 grams of carbohydrates
• Morning Snack time: 30 grams of carbohydrates
• Lunch time: 60 grams of carbohydrates
• Afternoon (or Evening) Snack time: 30 grams of carbohydrates
• Dinner time: 60 grams of carbohydrates
• Need to walk at least 30 minutes as many days a week as possible
• Need to drink about 80oz a day (water, milk, etc)

Make sure to come back for the last installment of 'That Pesky Glucose Thing.'