What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a disorder that disrupts the way your body uses sugar during pregnancy. The body requires the use of sugar to work normally. Sugar gets into the cells in the body with the help of a hormone called insulin. Diabetes is caused when there is not enough insulin or the body stops responding to insulin, resulting in elevated blood sugar. Pregnancy increases the body’s need for insulin and sometimes your body can not keep up with the demands of insulin it needs, resulting in gestational diabetes.
I have Gestational Diabetes Now What?
- You will need to schedule to see a Diabetes Educator at any ThedaCare hospital (call the central scheduling department to make this appointment at 920-738-6521).
- Your provider will help manage monitoring of frequent blood sugar levels with the Diabetes Educator.
- Your pregnancy may require further monitoring in the last trimester, your provider will discuss this plan of care with you.
What can I expect at the appointment with the Diabetes Educator?
- The Diabetes Educator will be teaching you how to check your blood sugar with the testing supplies that have been ordered for you at the pharmacy.
- Bring food record for at least 3 days.
- You will see the Diabetes Educator 1 week after the initial appointment to review blood sugars, diet, and answer any questions.
What do I do until my appointment with the Diabetes Educator?
- Eat 3 meals a day with snacks in between.
- Eat something about every 3 hours.
- Limit cereal, pancakes, juice, waffles, and other processed baked goods at breakfast.
- Have protein foods with breakfast like eggs, Greek yogurt, low fat cheese, low fat cottage cheese, etc.
- Eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low fat dairy and healthy fats like nuts and oils.
- Drink water and avoid soda and juice.
|
