1. Stages of Pregnancy Slideshow Pictures
2. Early Pregnancy Symptoms
3. Conception (Egg to Embryo) Slideshow Pictures

In this Article

• What is gestational diabetes?
• What causes gestational diabetes?
• What are the complications of gestational diabetes?
• Who is at risk for gestational diabetes?
• How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?
• How is gestational diabetes managed?
• Do I need to take insulin?
• How do I monitor my blood glucose levels?
• How will my diet change?
• How much exercise is safe?
• How much weight gain is safe during pregnancy?
• What happens to my baby after delivery?
• Will gestational diabetes cause the baby to have diabetes?
• Will I still have diabetes after I deliver my baby?
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Gestational Diabetes Index

Gestational diabetes is managed by:

• Monitoring blood sugar levels four times per day - before breakfast and 2 hours after meals. Monitoring blood sugar before all meals may also become necessary.)
• Monitoring urine for ketones, an acid that indicates your diabetes is not under control.
• Following specific dietary guidelines as instructed by your doctor. You'll be asked to distribute your calories evenly throughout the day. the day.
• Exercising after obtaining your health care provider's permission.
• Monitoring your weight gain.
• Taking insulin, if necessary. Insulin is currently the only diabetes medication used during pregnancy.
• Controlling high blood pressure.

Testing your blood sugar at certain times of the day will help determine if your exercise and eating patterns are keeping your blood sugar levels in control, or if you need extra insulin to protect your developing baby. Your health care provider will ask you to maintain a daily food record and ask you to record your home sugar levels.

Testing your blood sugar involves pricking your finger with a lancet device (a small, sharp needle), putting a drop of blood on a test strip, using a blood sugar meter to display your results, recording the results in a log book, and then disposing the lancet and strips properly (in a "sharps" container or a hard plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle).

Bring your blood sugar readings with you to your medical appointments so your health care provider can evaluate how well your blood sugar levels are controlled and determine if changes need to be made to your treatment plan.

Your health care provider will show you how to use a glucose meter. He or she can also tell you where to get a meter. You may be able to borrow it from your hospital, as many hospitals have loaner meter programs for women with gestational diabetes.

The goal of monitoring is to keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. The ranges include:

Insulin is started if above levels are not maintained.

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