Gestational Diabetes – What it is, How to Treat it

Diabetes. A condition familiar even to those who have never had it, or think they haven’t. Sometimes the condition can be nearly asymptomatic from childhood, requiring no treatment, while other types manifest in adulthood. Often, a predisposition to diabetes becomes apparent in a stressful situation for the body, such as during pregnancy. During this period, it’s essential to consider proper treatment. According to research studies, 3-10% of pregnant women experience gestational diabetes during pregnancy. 

There are a number of factors that cause the development of the disease, guidelines for behavior during a difficult illness, as well as ways to prevent it. Today in the article we will discuss all this so that your pregnancy goes smoothly, even considering some complications that GDM may bring.

What is Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Before moving on to the causes, consequences, and ways to avoid complications, let’s define what GDM is during pregnancy. So, gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy occurs when the body is unable to independently produce and process insulin. This leads to elevated blood glucose levels, sometimes critically so.

Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group, even if they were perfectly healthy before conception. This is due to the baby’s development. The more the baby grows, the more support it requires from the nutrients produced by placental hormones. These hormones ensure the baby’s normal development and deplete the woman’s body.

In addition to the pregnancy itself, there may be additional triggers:

1. Excess weight gained from gestational diabetes is very difficult to lose after childbirth and affects the delivery process.
2. Significant weight gain during pregnancy.
3. The age of the woman.
4. If the baby born in a previous delivery weighed more than 4 kilograms.
5. The presence of hereditary disease risk.
6. National origin. Women of Asian, Native American, Hispanic, and African-American descent are more likely to suffer from gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

However, it’s important to remember that even if you have no predisposition and are safe based on all the above points, it is essential to undergo thorough examinations during pregnancy and inform your doctor of any changes, as gestational diabetes is classified as dangerous. 

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes in Pregnant Women

It is almost impossible to identify gestational diabetes during pregnancy “at a glance.” Gestational diabetes often presents without any symptoms and can only be diagnosed through a blood test. However, there are several factors to pay attention to:

1. The first sign is excessive fatigue.
2. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy can worsen vision.
3. Increased frequency of urination.
4. One of the common signs is a constant feeling of thirst.
5. Dizziness and fainting are possible. This can be due to pregnancy or diabetes.

Any symptom should be reported to your prenatal care physician. They will order tests to help confirm or rule out gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

The blood sugar test is conducted using anhydrous glucose around the 25th week. The result should not exceed 5.1 mmol/L. We want to clarify that the blood test for gestational diabetes during pregnancy is conducted multiple times (at least twice), even for groups not at high risk. This is one reason why it is important to register at the hospital in the early weeks.

Diet Rules for GDM for Pregnant Women

The most important thing a pregnant woman diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) must do is adjust her diet. If insulin production is compromised, it is crucial to monitor every meal closely, as the consequences will affect not only the mother but also the unborn baby. 

Important! Only a doctor can prescribe an appropriate diet. Below are general dietary principles that do not take into account the individual characteristics of your body. Thus, with GDM during pregnancy, it is necessary to:

1. The first recommendation is to switch to fractional meals. You should have 3 full meals daily and three snacks (including a light snack at night). Food plays the most important role.
2. Adhere to the principles of protein/fat/carbohydrate distribution in a ratio of 50:35:15. This is the simplest indicator of diet quality. For convenience, use a table with the protein/fat/carbohydrate indicators for each product.
3. Drink exclusively pure non-carbonated water in an amount of 1.5-2 liters.
4. With GSD, it is necessary to completely abandon easily digestible carbohydrates.
5. Consume dairy products in moderation, and only in the second half of the day.
6. Eliminate sugar from your diet, both in pure and processed forms. The same should be done with honey if you have gestational diabetes.

The diet can be quite strict. If you find it difficult to stick to, you should diversify the menu with different cooking methods, and very rarely treat yourself to small portions of “goodies” (if the situation with gestational diabetes during pregnancy is not critical and does not threaten your life or the life of your child).

GSD Diet Menu

A balanced diet should meet all the needs of the mother and baby, provide the woman with energy for carrying the child, and ensure the maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels. The most suitable diet is considered to be the diet according to table No. 9. It involves the consumption of a range of products that meet certain criteria, with the complete exclusion of others. The list of foods that can be eaten with gestational diabetes includes:

1. Vegetables in raw, boiled, baked, and steamed forms. Starchy vegetables and carrots are not allowed. You can find a complete table of permitted fruits and vegetables online.
2. Sour berries and fruits, while sweets should be strictly limited.
3. Grains. However, semolina is not allowed.
4. Natural cottage cheese and cheese.
5. With GSD, you can eat rye bread.
6. Chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef, and chicken eggs.
7. Mushrooms, legumes, greens.
8. Nuts can be eaten in small quantities as they are beneficial for gestational diabetes.

All processed foods, sugar-containing products, semi-finished products, sweet fruits, and butter should be strictly limited or better yet excluded entirely, as recommended by the diet plan. This recommendation will help reduce the risk of developing the disease. It’s important to note that this article only helps you find a direction for eating behavior; the best recommendations can be obtained from a doctor. 

Why Gestational Diabetes is Dangerous

Diabetes is a dangerous disease. It can lead to a lot of complications. To avoid consequences, it is important to timely diagnose the presence of gestational diabetes during pregnancy and take measures to “balance” the situation. But why is gestational diabetes dangerous? Here are some consequences according to ICD: 

1. Weight gain. This is harmful not only to the health of the expectant mother but also complicates childbirth.
2. Seizures may occur with gestational diabetes.
3. Increased risk of preeclampsia, which may lead to the need for a cesarean section.
4. Development of GDM after childbirth.
5. Obesity in the unborn baby.
6. GDM during pregnancy leads to premature aging of the placenta, preventing normal carrying of the pregnancy.
7. Delayed fetal development.
8. Polyhydramnios.
9. Preterm labor.
10. Trauma to the baby and the mother during delivery.

In severe cases, GDM can lead to irreversible consequences for the fetus. As you can see, the list of consequences is not small, and none of them are simple. In some cases, insulin therapy is necessary. That is why it’s important to visit the doctor on time, discuss all health problems (even if they seem insignificant to you), and most importantly, to take all prescribed tests promptly and correctly. 

Key Rules for Preventing GDM

Predicting the development of GDM is almost impossible. However, measures can be taken to prevent the development of GDM. If you have risk factors or suspect the possibility of developing GDM, you should adhere to the basic principles of preventing GDM during pregnancy:

1. Consume as many fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish as possible, along with other allowed foods. The diet for gestational diabetes should be balanced and rich in vitamins. By following the prescribed diet and consuming only allowed foods, you can achieve remarkable results without medication.
2. Consume about 2500 kilocalories per day. This is the daily requirement for a healthy pregnancy. Remember, “diet” does not mean “starvation.” It should only affect your well-being, not your sense of hunger.
3. Moderate physical activity is essential for gestational diabetes. You simply need to exercise. This can include home exercises, swimming, yoga, aerobics for pregnant women, and so on. It’s important that the type of exercise suits you according to your expectant mother status. According to a 2021 study, the risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy is reduced by 29% when engaging in sports. Isn’t this a criterion for choosing a prevention method?

Healthy food, positive thinking, and constant monitoring by a doctor will help prevent and manage the diagnosis of gestational diabetes during pregnancy. During this delicate period, your health and the health of your baby are in your hands. If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, insulin therapy may be necessary.