gestational diabetes

• what is gestational

  diabetes is diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. It affects women who haven’t been affected by diabetes before. It means you have high blood sugar and need to take extra care of yourself and your bump. This will include eating well and keeping active. It usually goes away again after giving birth. It is usually diagnosed from a blood test 24 to 28 weeks into pregnancy
• what causes it

  Gestational diabetes can develop at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second or third trimester. It is usually diagnosed from a blood test 24 to 28 weeks into pregnancy. Along with the physical signs, the hormones you produce can make it hard for your body to use insulin properly. This puts you at an increased risk of insulin resistance, and some women can’t produce enough insulin to overcome it.  This makes it difficult to use glucose (sugar) properly for energy, so it stays in your blood and the sugar levels rise. This then leads to gestational diabetes.
• During your first antenatal appointment (also called a booking appointment) at around week 8 to 12 of your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will ask you some questions to determine whether you’re at an increased risk of gestational diabetes.
• If you have 1 or more risk factors for gestational diabetes you should be offered a screening test.it is called an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which takes about 2 hours. It involves having a blood test in the morning, when you have not had any food or drink for 8 to 10 hours (though you can usually drink water, but check with the hospital if you’re unsure). You’re then given a glucose drink. After resting for 2 hours, another blood sample is taken to see how your body is dealing with the glucose. The OGTT is done when you’re between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant.
• eat regularly – usually three meals a day


  and avoid skipping meals. eat starchy and low glycaemic index (GI)
• foods that release sugar slowly –

  such as wholewheat pasta, brown rice, granary bread, all-bran cereals, pulses, beans, lentils, muesli and plain porridge
• eat plenty of fruit and vegetables –

  aim for at least 5 portions a day. avoid sugary foods – you do not need a completely sugar-free diet, but swap snacks such as cakes and biscuits for healthier alternatives such as fruit, nuts and seeds. avoid sugary drinks – diet or sugar-free drinks are better than sugary versions.