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You may be upset when you are diagnosed by gestational diabetes, but there are ways to treat and manage the disease. It is probably more realistic that you are more upset or nervous about giving yourself a daily injection (yes a needle) of insulin. Getting a needle is no big deal for most people, but giving one to yourself for the first time can be intimidating. The best advice is to just get it over with. After you have done it once it gets much easier. There are different places on your body that you give use to give yourself a needle (called injection sites). A fleshy part of your body is the best place such as the back of your arm, back of your leg, in your buttocks or the upper part of your abdomen.It is recommended to rotate your injection sites, if you prefer to give yourself a needle in the back of your arm it is okay to use that area every time. But you should not use the exact same spot on the back of your arm. You will be taught the proper method of drawing insulin into the syringe by your doctor or endocrinologist. It is important to take special care and attention to the amount of insulin that you are injecting. Too little and your blood sugar will be too high and too much you can suffer from hypoglycemia (a very low blood sugar).It is important to store your insulin in the refrigerator but once you prepare your syringe it is okay to have it out for some time before using it. You may even prefer this because when the insulin is cold it may sting more as you inject it.If it turns out that you really cannot give yourself a needle you will have to get your partner to do it for you.

In order to diagnose you with gestational diabetes, your healthcare provider will order a test from the lab. There are two levels of the test that can be taken

There are a number of aches and pains that come with pregnancy. While back in the day many doctors just brushed them aside and said that is part of pregnancy, now a days more and more doctors are recommending a well balanced diet to help. Here are just a few pregnancy aliments that a good diet can help. A common complaint during pregnancy is tooth and gum problems. To help keep your teeth healthy and your baby’s teeth healthy, make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin C. Always keep some sugarless gum near you or chew on some nuts and cheese. It is also not uncommon for many women to feel dizzy or lightheaded during pregnancy especially if they have gone to long without eating. This is why it is so important to eat through out the day and snack also. Keep your snacks as healthy as you can and stay away from junk food whenever you can. These foods will give you a quick rush of energy but ultimately leave you feeling worse than you did before you ate them. Keep yourself hydrated also. Snacking and drinking will help boost your blood sugar and keep you hydrated which can help you fight dizziness. Sometime during your second trimester, you may find yourself awakening in the middle of the night to leg cramps. Leg cramps can come from not getting enough calcium. Some say that the leg cramps implicate a shortage of magnesium while some say that dehydration can be the cause. Either way makes sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium. If you suffer from leg cramps you might find it helpful to drink a glass of milk, or have a piece of cheese before you go to turn in to bed at night. Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated also. Swelling is another pain in pregnancy. While severe swelling could be a sign of preeclampsia, there is a certain amount of swelling that is normal and healthy during pregnancy. In fact more than seventy five percent of all pregnant women experience some sort of swelling. The most common cause is too much water retention. Staying away from salty foods and drinking extra water will help you keep the swelling to a bare minimum. Pregnancy is also a time where you skin might taken on the appearance of a teenager getting ready to hit puberty. Some women suffer from dry skin, which can be cured by making sure you drink plenty of fluids to increase moisture. If you have flakey skin, eat more omega-3 rich foods or seeds and nuts. There are some people who suffer from some skin discoloration and too much blotchiness could be a folic-acid deficiency. This is another reason why it is so important to make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamin. Lastly, we have all heard about the great head of hair some women are blessed with during pregnancy since hormones prevent hair from falling out at its normal rate. There are some women though who find that their hair is less than stellar during pregnancy. This could be due to the lack of vitamins that you might be getting. Through out pregnancy it is important that you get enough vitamin A, B and C. Vitamin A will keep your hair and scalp healthy. Vitamin B will help with your hair growth and vitamin C is needed for strength. Make sure you are getting enough of this in your diet. Eating healthy throughout pregnancy does not only ensure your chances of a healthy pregnancy but it will also help you avoid some of the more uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy too.

Because of all the risks and complications associated with poor control of blood glucose levels during pregnancy it is best to keep them in check all the time. But if there is a time during your pregnancy where it is considered more important to have your blood glucose levels under control it is when you are in labor.If you have a very high blood glucose level while you are in labor, your baby is going to produce enough insulin to compensate for the sugar in your system. But what happens when your baby is born is he or she is no longer exposed to your high blood sugar and has an excess of insulin in their system. This will cause the baby to be hypoglycemic and can be quite dangerous for the baby.For this reason, your baby

When you have gestational diabetes your doctor is going to run tests at the beginning but then it is going to be up to you to monitor your own blood sugar on a daily basis. You will still get the support that you will need but a lot of the process of keeping your blood sugar under control is going to be left in your hands.This will be done with a glucose monitor. It is a very quick and simple procedure. You prick your finger with a lancet using a lancet device. A lancet is a plastic piece with a pointed metal tip that is put into a pen-like device that is used to draw blood from your finger. It is relatively painless and with newer monitors there is very little blood that is needed to run the test.Your monitor will also come with testing strips, a piece of plastic that has a microchip in one and a place to put the droop of blood on the other. This strip is placed into the monitor, you put the drop of blood from your finger onto the strip and the monitor performs the test. Different monitors take varying amounts of time but the average is between five and twenty seconds.When you are first diagnosed with gestational diabetes you will be asked to test your blood sugar seven times in one day. You will test:* First thing in the morning before you eat (a fasting test)* 1 hour after eating breakfast* Before you eat lunch* 1 hour after eating lunch* Before you eat dinner* 1 hour after eating dinner* Before going to bedThe more you test the better idea you will have on how well you are managing your diabetes. It is all the way to determine if you are giving yourself enough insulin.

Once you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes you will see an endocrinologist and develop a treatment plan. You may also see a nutritionist or dietician to help you develop a food plan that will meat the needs of you and the baby and not be detrimental to your blood sugar level.What you eat will have a major impact on your blood glucose levels. It is not only foods high in sugar that you have to avoid. A good meal plan will make use of the recommended food guide with several small meals spaced throughout the day. Ideally, you should eat six times a day: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and a bedtime snack. By eating frequent and small meals you can keep better control of your glucose level by trying to keep a slow and steady supply of energy for your body. Having a small amount of protein at each meal and snack is beneficial in maintaining a healthy blood glucose level.Physical exercise is also very important. You can control and lower your glucose levels by getting active. Before you start any physical routine, be sure to consult with your doctor. The exercise you do does not have to be vigorous. You can take three small walks after breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 15-20 minutes to help burn off the extra sugar in your body.A strict diet and physical exercise are going to be used for any woman with gestational diabetes. But for woman who have higher insulin needs (and the need for insulin is going to increase as the pregnancy progresses) they will have to have additional insulin by way of injections. This isn

The exact cause or causes of what causes gestational diabetes are not known. But there are risk factors that can increase the chances of getting it. As with any disease, risk factors are not a guarantee that you will contract the disease they just make the likelihood of getting it higher. Some of the risk factors you will have control over and some you do not.A family history of diabetes will increase the chances of developing gestational diabetes in pregnancy. The closer the relative is to you (first generation like a parent) means the risk is increased. If your family suffers from diabetes, your own pancreas may not be able to produce the amount of insulin necessary while pregnant. This deficit combined with the hormones released by the placenta can lead to diabetes in pregnancy.Women who are overweight and are clinically considered obese run a higher risk of being diagnosed. The excess wait puts a strain on your body, including your pancreas, and makes it hard for enough insulin to be produced and used by your body effectively.If you have had a previous baby with a higher than average birth weight, you are considered at risk for your next pregnancy of getting gestational diabetes. It could have been possible that you had it in your first pregnancy and it went undiagnosed. Babies born from moms with diabetes in pregnancy tend to be larger unless her blood sugars are strictly managed. Or if you had diabetes in your first pregnancy, chances are very high that you will get it again.Since there is still no known cause a woman may have all of these factors or none and still get diabetes. It is best to attend all of your prenatal appointments with your doctor so he can be on the look out for any signs that you may have gestational diabetes.

Depending on when you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during your pregnancy (most likely between weeks 24 and 28) you are going to have many weeks of watching what you eat ahead of you. If you find a meal that you like and works well with your blood sugars you may be tempted to eat it again (and again and again). You are going to reach a point where you do not want to even think about a piece of toast with peanut butter again. And when you do, here are some ideas for a diabetic friendly breakfast:* One piece of whole wheat toast with 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter and a glass of milk* A bowl of cereal and milk with almonds sprinkled on top* One egg (cooked to your preference) a piece of toast and a glass of milk* Natural peanut butter spread on half a banana* Egg and cheese omelet with your choice of vegetablesGo for quality foods because as you can see, meal sizes are going to be small. By combining your breakfast foods with a protein you will assist your body in processing the sugar. The added benefit of the protein is be satiating for a longer period of time. If you fill up on carbohydrates (which is very easy to do at breakfast) you are going to be hungry sooner and have a higher blood sugar for your next reading.As breakfast is going to set the tone for the rest of the day, don

When you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes it is going to be very important to monitor your blood sugar levels several times per day. You want to ensure you are remaining within your target range given to you by your doctor. In addition to testing your blood sugar you will also be testing yourself daily for ketones.You test for ketones in your urine first thing in the morning with strips from your doctor or pharmacy. This is the most common method but this can also be done through a blood test. The presence of ketones in your urine during pregnancy is a signal that you need to adjust your diet

You are twenty eight weeks pregnant! Congratulations, you have made it to your third trimester with a picture perfect pregnancy. You go in to see your obgyn for your appointment and the bomb drops. You have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is one of the most common pregnancy complications that women face. It is when pregnant women have high blood sugar levels during their pregnancy. It is not really known what can cause gestational diabetes. Some experts say that overweight women have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes, but there is not much evidence to support this. What is known about gestational diabetes is that one of the only cures is to deliver the baby. After delivery your blood sugar level will go back down to normal. The common treatment for gestational diabetes has been insulin shots. Just as if you had diabetes when you were not pregnant, you would have to take shots each day. Some women find though that by changing their diet, they are able to manage their gestational diabetes without having to give themselves a shot of insulin. If you are looking to make dietary changes your doctor will probably refer you to a nutritionist. They will look at several factors when designing a meal plan for you. First they will look at your weight before you got pregnant and how much you have gained since them. Next they will look at your activity level and your blood level. Then they will work with you to design an eating plan that has just the right amount of carbohydrates. Some of the guidelines you should follow are to spread your carbs out through out the day by eating three small meals and two to four snacks. Breakfast might be a meal where you will want to eat less carbs since they can cause your blood sugar to rise quickly. Instead eat a protein filled breakfast with eggs, or even meat. Giving up sweets is one of the best things you can do if you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and will make your meal plan easier to follow. It is also important to that you do not skip meals or try going on a low carb diet. This is going to cause your blood levels to fall to low levels and can leave you exhausted and legatheric. Chances are you will have to test your blood sugar levels regularly to make sure you are at a safe level. Some women are so sensitive that they can tell when their levels are low and know what steps to take to correct it. Not taking the steps to keep your gestational diabetes under control not only puts you at a risk of developing type 2 diabetes’s later in life, but you are also putting the life of your baby at risk. Babies born from moms who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes tend to be larger than those who aren’t. Most doctors will not let a women go past her due date if she has gestational diabetes and a few will not even let them go as far as their due date before inducting them. Larger babies could mean more delivery complications and increase your chance of a c- section. Gestational diabetes is so common these days that no one bats an eye if you say you have it. By eating a healthy diet and watching your sugar level, you will be able to control your blood sugar level and continue with your perfect pregnancy.

Ask any pregnant woman who is in her first or third trimester how they are feeling and the answer will almost always be “tired”. One of the first clues that many women have that they may be expecting a visit from the stork is the fact that they find themselves droopy eyed in the middle of the day for no reason.You may find that doing a simply task as walking around the block leaves your desperate for an afternoon nap. The energy you use to have is now faced with the challenge of growing a baby and your body is hard at work. You are also producing more blood, using more water and nutrients and have a higher heart rate and metabolism when you are pregnant. While the best defensive against the tiredness you will face is to get more sleep. There are also some healthy foods choices you can make that will help you get through your day if you do not have the opportunities to take naps. First, adjust the size of your meals. Anyone who eats a large meal is going to feel tired afterwards regardless of if they are pregnant or not. Being pregnant is going to make the effect of a big meal that much worse. Most of your energy is going to be used towards digesting the meal so of course you will feel sluggish and drained. Eat smaller meals and eat more often. Eating six small meals a day will help you combat fatigue. Eating a good breakfast is the best way to start your day. You are refueling your body after a long foodless night with a good breakfast. A good breakfast is not a cup of coffee and a piece of toast. You want to stick to complex carbs and protein. Whole grain cereal and a banana for example. These foods will stay with you and keep your blood sugar and energy level up for quiet a while. Do not skip lunch. There are many people who skip lunch thinking they will make up for it by having a big dinner. This is bad when you are not pregnant but it’s even worse when you are pregnant. You need that midday meal to help refuel your body. As with your breakfast, you should keep it filled with whole grains and protein. Have a whole grain pita and stuff it with chicken salad and add a side of grapes or an apple.Plan to eat most of your calories during the day. A pregnant woman needs an extra 300 calories a day throughout their second and third trimester. The first trimester those are not needed yet. You should eat these extra calories through out the day in the form of healthy snacks such as nuts, cheese, veggies and dip. Do not save your biggest meal until the end of the day. Your body needs these calories to help you get through your day. Steer clear of the quick sugar fixes like candy and soda. In the end these will only make you more tired.Lastly, make sure you are getting enough iron. Eat iron fortified food such as spinach and lean red meat to keep your energy up. There are times when extreme fatigue could be the symptom of an iron deficiency and you might need an iron supplement also. Besides eating well, make sure you get plenty of rest even if this means pushing your bedtime up and giving up those late night TV talk shows. As any parents of newborns will tell you, get your rest while you still can.