Gestation diabetes is a disease well known to many women especially during pregnancy. It is extremely important to take proper precautions both for the baby and the mother during pregnancy. Gestation diabetes an illness that affects around 7-8% of women in the US and around the world specifically during pregnancy. Some women do already have it before the pregnancy; however, many develop it as a result of pregnancy which may be an alarming surprise for a lot of woman. When woman is pregnant she should be tested for gestation diabetes. The risk goes up the older the woman is. Doctors warn that checking for this type of diabetes after the pregnancy it is important for the next three years after the birth as more than 50% of women develop gestation diabetes specifically during that period of time.
Gestation diabetes targets the women with higher weight than average and those women who do not exercise regularly run a risk of developing this type of diabetes during pregnancy. It is crucial to do regular screenings as well as maintain the right balance of healthy food and exercise. It not only delays, but also can also help prevent gestation diabetes from developing. The average level of activity which is roughly 30 minutes per day is required. Women should focus on breastfeeding as it reduces the risk of an overweight child and further decrease the chances of passing gestation diabetes to a baby. It is common for gestational diabetes to occur in families that have already had cases of diabetes in the past and there is genetic predisposition to this type of disease. If you are in this category, it is advised you talk to your obstetrician and go through your history of screenings and the history of your family screenings. As gestation diabetes increases the chances of a baby being overweight and getting type 2 diabetes, women should consider the screening and after birth screenings very seriously. There is a tremendously useful website www.YourDiabetesInfo.org that can take you through the steps and give you more information on how to deal with gestational diabetes. There is also the National Diabetes Education Program in the US that has a number to call and ask any questions.
The best way would be to seek advice from your doctor and also check for local health organisations that target gestational diabetes as a part of their social educational programme. If you take precautions early, you can avoid gestation diabetes altogether.