What you need to know if you pregnant and suffering from diabetes GDM

Diabetes has three types, the "type 1 diabetes" which is the least common type but predominantly diagnosed among kids and teens, the "type diabetes" which is the most common to all ages and the "gestational diabetes" which are common for women once they get pregnant. It can be said that among these three types of diabetes, "gestational diabetes" is the easiest to deal with because it usually ends once the woman gives birth. However, this is not always the case because there are also those that continue to suffer from the disease that can lead to "type 2 diabetes" if not monitored and given proper medical attention immediately.

Although almost pregnant women are expected to suffer from gestational diabetes at one point during their pregnancy, there are also those who suffer from it even before they conceive. In this scenario, dealing with diabetes can be harder and much more complicated. But now, with the help of modern technology and advances in the field of medical research, pregnancy for women who are diabetics is fairly easier and lesser risk when it comes to the overall health of the baby and the mother as well.

First things first

For women who are diagnosed with diabetes, getting pregnant should be an utmost decision to make. This is because it will greatly determine not just the baby's health but the woman's overall health condition as well. For women who are planning to get pregnant despite suffering from diabetes, the major consideration to ponder on is the readiness of the woman's body. This is very important to ensure that the woman can meet all the challenges and difficulties that goes with pregnancy.

To know if the woman's body is ready for pregnancy despite diabetes, she should undergo a thorough physical examination administered by a licensed physician. This is very important because the physician can tell if the body is ready for the demands of pregnancy and labor and the possible complications that might occur along the way.

Experts say that pregnant women who have diabetes will most likely develop related complications such as diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, kidney disease, autonomic neuropathy or nerve damage to the internal organs, and cardiovascular diseases. 

Please always check with your diabetic health team before making any changes

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What is Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)?

There are 2 ways to explain about diabetes which can affect women in pregnancy

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that affects pregnant women.  Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood glucose (sugar) levels during pregnancy are at higher risk to have gestational diabetes. This is due to hormone change which happens during pregnancy.   Research done by Disease Control and Prevention has proof of gestational diabetes is as high as 9.2%.

One is called Gestational Diabetes Mellitus - This term is used when you don’t have diabetes before pregnancy.

Second is called Pre-gestational diabetes. This term used for women who already have insulin-dependent diabetes and become pregnant.

GDM is usually diagnosed in late pregnancy (24 to 28th weeks).  In some women diabetes may be diagnosed in early stages, and in these cases, the condition most likely existed before pregnancy.

Women who have had the condition in previous pregnancies or have diabetes type -1 or diabetes type – 2, will be tested at early stages.  With good management of gestational diabetes, you can increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.

8 Diabetic Diet Myths Dispelled

Diabetes is fast becoming one of the most common illnesses in the world. As such, there is a treasure trove of rumors and misinformation regarding this disease. It's extremely important to separate fact from fiction, and that is why we've brought you 8 of the most common myths about this disease that we are going to bust right now. 

Myth 1: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes

It is widely thought that eating too much sugar causes diabetes. What does cause diabetes is an insulin malfunction . This means your body struggles to turn the food you eat into energy. Usually food gets broken down into glucose, a sugar that powers cells. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone which helps cells use glucose for energy.

There are 3 common forms of diabetes and none of them are caused by sugar intake.

Type 1 diabetes usually starts in childhood or young adulthood and is when the pancreas can’t produce insulin. These people need to take insulin to help move the sugar into the cells and prevent it from amassing in the blood.

Type 2 diabetes can affect any person, of any age and is when the pancreas doesn’t produce sufficient insulin or the insulin stops working, and sometimes both scenarios. Being overweight can make this form of diabetes more ly.

Another common type is Gestational diabetes, a temporary form of diabetes that occurs in pregnancy due to hormone changes that cause insulin not to work properly.

Myth 2: You won’t be able to eat your favorite foods anymore

The idea that you are limited to uninteresting food when you are diabetic is widespread and misleading. You don’t have to give up foods you love; you just might need to think of how you eat them differently. You will need to change the way you prepare these foods, and might need to change the foods that you eat alongside them, and possibly reducing the portions.

Myth 3: You’ll have to prepare separate diabetic meals

You might be thinking that you won’t be able to eat what the rest of the family is eating, and extra preparation would be required. This isn’t necessarily true. A diabetic diet is a healthy diet, nutritious for the whole family and doesn’t require separate preparation. The person with diabetes just needs to pay more attention to the amount of calories she or he eats and monitor the types of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in their diet.

Alternative sugars

Stevia

This is a plant extract that tastes much sweeter than sugar and has no calories. It has the added benefit of lowering blood sugar and blood pressure. Stevia has a distinct taste and it can take a while to adjust.

Erythritol

This sugar alcohol is low in calories and doesn’t affect your blood sugar levels. It is safe to eat however eating too much can cause digestion issues.

Xylitol

Another sugar alcohol that doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels. Similar to Erythritol, Xylitol causes digestive issues if eaten in large quantities. This sugar alcohol is also been shown to have dental benefits and improve bone density. It’s highly toxic to dogs.

Myth 4: Carbohydrates are bad for diabetics

Carbohydrates, commonly shortened to carbs, are the foundation of any healthy diet and are not bad for diabetes. Why they are important to monitor is because they have the greatest effect on blood sugar levels. It’s best to discuss which ones you eat with a dietitian so that you select nutrient rich ones.

Myth 5: You can replace carbohydrates with protein

Carbohydrates ability to affect blood sugar levels quickly might tempt people with diabetes to lower their intake of carbs and compensate with more protein. This is fine in principle, but in practice many proteins, such as meat, are dense in saturated fats. Consuming too much fat can increase the risk for heart disease.

Myth 6: You can take medicine and eat what you

It would be great if taking a pill would allow you to go about eating what you usually do but adjusting your medication makes it less effective as medicine works best taken consistently, as instructed by your physician. For those who take insulin, it’s often the case that you learn to adjust the amount of insulin to match the amount of food you eat, but this doesn’t give you permission to eat as much as you want. You still have to stick to a diabetic diet to stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Myth 7: You have to eat diet foods

A lot of ‘diet’ foods are smart marketing. They are often more expensive and no healthier than regular foods. It’s important to read the ingredients and consider the number of calories before deciding if it’s suitable for your diabetic diet. As always when in doubt about what food is beneficial its best to consult with a nutritionist or dietitian.

Myth 8: No more dessert

Similar to myth #2 you need to rethink how you look at desserts. There are plenty sweet options available for eating at the end of a meal. You can use artificial sweeteners, alternative sugars or try expanding your food horizons to include fruit, and yogurts. You can even make your recipes more nutritious by including whole grains, and vegetable oil when preparing desserts. For many recipes you can skip or reduce the sugar without changing the consistency or sacrificing the taste. Another option is to practice portion control. Consider splitting dessert or opting for a single ice cream scoop.

NOTE: Before making any changes to your diet check with your GP.


Manek Chowk <pothinudehlu@gmail.com>