Gestational Diabetes (cont.)
How Do I Monitor My Blood Glucose Levels?
Testing your blood glucose at certain times of the day will help determine if
your exercise and eating patterns are keeping your blood glucose 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 glucose levels.
Testing your blood glucose involves pricking your finger with a lancet device
(a small, sharp needle), putting a drop of blood on a test strip, using a blood
glucose meter to display your results, recording the results in a log book and
then disposing the lancet and strips properly (in a used "sharps" container or a
hard plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle). Bring your blood
glucose readings with you to your doctor appointments so your doctor can
evaluate how well your glucose 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 glucose as close to normal as
possible. The ranges include:
| Time of Test |
Target Blood Glucose Reading |
| Before breakfast |
plasma below 105; whole blood below 95 |
| 2 Hour After Meals |
plasma below 130; whole below 120 |
Insulin is started if above levels are not maintained.
Do I Need to Take Insulin?
Based on your blood glucose monitoring results, your healthcare provider
will tell you if you need to take insulin in the form of injections during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that
controls blood glucose. If insulin is prescribed for you, you will be
taught how to perform the insulin injection procedure.
As your pregnancy progresses, the placenta will make more pregnancy
hormones and larger doses of insulin may be needed to control your blood
glucose. Your healthcare provider will adjust your insulin dosage based
on your blood glucose log.
When using insulin, a "low blood glucose reaction," or hypoglycemia, can occur if you do not eat enough food, skip a meal,
do not eat at the right time of day or if you exercise more than usual.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Feeling shaky
- Headaches
- Sudden hunger
- Sweating
- Weakness
Hypoglycemia is a serious problem that needs to be treated right away. If you
think you are having a low blood glucose reaction, check your blood glucose. If
your blood glucose is less than 60 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), eat a
sugar-containing food, such as ½ cup of orange or apple juice; 1 cup of skim
milk; 4-6 pieces of hard candy (not sugar-free); ½ cup regular soft drink; or 1
tbsp of honey, brown sugar, or corn syrup. Fifteen minutes after eating one of
the foods listed above, check your blood glucose. If it is still less than 60
mg/dL, eat another one of the food choices above. If it is more than 45 minutes
until your next meal, eat a bread and protein source to prevent another
reaction.
Record all low blood glucose reactions in your log book, including the date,
time of day the reaction occurred and how you treated it.
Next: How will my diet change? »
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