Managing gestational diabetes with diet and exercise
It is very important that a woman takes care of her health during pregnancy for the well being of her unborn baby. Gestational diabetes occurs amongst pregnant women, and if it is left untreated, then both the mother and child can suffer from serious health consequences. In order to avoid this risk, all mothers are routinely screened by doctors during their second trimester for gestational diabetes.
There are some women who are not even familiar with what gestational diabetes is. This lack of knowledge is the main reason why many women suffer from gestational diabetes. There are various symptoms of this type of illness including frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger and fatigue. Most of the time the symptoms associated with diabetes does not show up, but the glucose challenge test given during second trimester, can tell whether or not a woman is suffering from gestational diabetes.
It is necessary that you control diabetes before it worsens your health. The best way to manage gestational diabetes is through a combination of diet and exercise. These methods are the best way by which a woman can control her high blood sugar levels. The first thing a pregnant woman must do is to replace simple sugars in the diet with complex carbohydrates. This means she will have to avoid sugar and fizzy drinks like soft drinks, candies, juices and bread products.
A pregnant woman must consume higher amount of complex sugars from sources like vegetables and whole grains. Legumes are also an essential part of the diet as it takes longer to digest, in turn keeping blood glucose levels normal. She must also add fruits in the diet but must make sure it is eaten in moderation as it contains higher sugar content. Also balance carbohydrate intake with appropriate amounts of protein and fiber. A nutritious diet is highly essential for all pregnant women, but more so for those suffering from gestational diabetes.
Exercise also plays a major role in managing gestational diabetes. With regular exercise, the need for insulin reduces because glucose travels faster to the muscle cells, which improve blood sugar control. Exercise will also dramatically reduce the amount of cholesterol and triglyceride in the body, lessening the risk associated with cardiovascular problems.
Expectant mothers must regularly take aerobics classes which is a good way to get all the exercises needed during pregnancy. Walking and swimming several times a day will improve the health of the expectant woman, but, before starting, it is important to discuss with your doctor about any exercise programs suitable for you. You may avoid regular exercises if your condition is complicated, but remember exercise is good for both mother and the unborn baby.
You can control gestational diabetes with a combination of diet and exercise. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, then make sure you work closely with your health care provider in order to keep diabetes under control for better well being of the child and yourself. |
