How to Avoid Gestational Diabetes Pregnancy in First Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy. It's not always possible to prevent this, but there are steps a pregnant woman can take to reduce her risk. Up to 9 in 100 pregnant women will develop a condition known as gestational diabetes (GDM). It can put you at risk for problems during pregnancy and childbirth.

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When you're pregnant, your cells become a little more resistant to insulin. This causes the amount of glucose, or sugar, in your blood to rise. The extra sugar helps ensure that more nutrients are available to your baby.

But when your cells become too resilient and the glucose can't get into them, your blood sugar levels become too high. It can cause problems for you and your growing baby.

Although some things mean you're more likely to get it, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

Who gets it

1. No one can say for sure who will have gestational diabetes, but your chances increase if you:
2. Are Hispanic, African American, Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander
3. Were overweight before you became pregnant
4. Do you have a family member with diabetes
5. are 25 years or older
6. Had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
7. Had a very large baby (9 pounds or more) or was stillborn

Previously had abnormal blood glucose tests

Talk to your doctor about how likely you are to get it and what symptoms to look out for.

According to the trusted source the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gestational diabetes develops in approximately 2-10% of pregnancies in the United States each year.

Gestational diabetes can negatively affect both the woman and the fetus. Possible effects are:

• an increase in blood pressure in women
• a higher risk of preeclampsia
• an increased risk that the woman will develop type 2 diabetes later in life
• high birth weight of the baby
• premature birth
• the baby has low blood sugar at birth

Read on for tips on how to prevent gestational diabetes. We also cover risk factors and early signs and symptoms.

Prevention

Although gestational diabetes isn't always preventable, women can take some steps to reduce their chances of developing it.

Go into pregnancy at a healthy weight

A woman wishing to conceive should choose a lifestyle that can help her achieve and maintain a healthy weight before becoming pregnant.

The authors of a 2018 study looked at 10 years of data on gestational diabetes and concluded that obesity is a significant risk factor.

Other research confirms that a BMI greater than 25 increases a woman's chance of developing gestational diabetes. However, the researchers also found that changing your diet reduces the risk.

People who want to lose weight can take steps to change their diet, such as:

• Measuring smaller portion sizes
• Avoiding packaged foods and junk food
• Substitute fruit for sweets
• Eat more lean protein, like fish and tofu, to stay full longer
• Increase fiber intake by eating plenty of vegetables and whole grains
• Replace juices, dairy-laden coffee drinks, and sodas with herbal tea, black coffee, or sparkling water with lemon or lime wedges

Exercise

Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. Exercise before and during pregnancy can help prevent gestational diabetes. Exercise helps the body become more sensitive to the insulin that the pancreas produces, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.

It's a good idea to get active before you get pregnant, even if it means making simple, long-term lifestyle changes. For anyone with a sedentary lifestyle, the following steps may help:

• walk or bike to work
• Park farther from the destination and walk the rest of the way
• take the stairs
• active leisure activities such as hiking, gardening or playing with children outdoors
• Try yoga, ideally a course specifically for pregnant women or beginners
• Low-impact sports such as B. Swimming
• Join a running club to stay motivated

If you want to prevent gestational diabetes, you should try to get about 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise 4-5 days a week. Moderate-intensity exercise should make a person sweat.

Good cardio options include stationary cycling, walking, swimming, and using an elliptical trainer.

However, pregnant women should speak to a doctor about new exercise programs and discuss which types are safe at each stage of pregnancy.

Eat well during pregnancy
During pregnancy, morning sickness, cravings, and food aversions can make it difficult to eat nutritiously.

However, good nutrition can help prevent gestational diabetes and ensure a woman only gains a healthy amount of weight each trimester.

Healthy food choices include:

1. lean proteins like beans, fish, tofu, and white poultry
2. healthy fats from nuts, olive oil, coconut oil, and other vegetable fat sources
3. Whole grains like brown rice, pasta, oatmeal, and bread
4. Low-fat dairy products like Greek yogurt
5. non-starchy vegetables
6. fruit

Best to avoid:

• processed foods
• Sugary drinks, including store-bought coffee drinks, energy drinks, juices and sodas
• extra or added sugar

Attend routine grooming appointments

A woman should regularly visit a gynecologist for routine care during pregnancy. During these visits, the doctor will ask about the pregnancy and new symptoms.

They will also perform a pelvic exam and use an ultrasound to examine the developing fetus. A doctor can spot some of the early signs of gestational diabetes and suggest ways to prevent them.

Between the 24th and 28th week, a pregnant woman is examined for gestational diabetes. If the results are positive for gestational diabetes, the doctor will talk to her about how to prevent further complications.

Gestational diabetes cannot always be prevented. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood that a woman will develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

However, maintaining a healthy weight before and after conception, eating well, and getting regular exercise during pregnancy can reduce the risk.

Anyone who is concerned about having gestational diabetes or an increased risk of it should discuss this with their doctor at their next pregnancy check-up.