Diabetes Awareness Week 2008 - Coming Soon
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07 July 2008
Low GI diet reduces cancer risk
 
A new Italian study says a low Glycemic Index diet may reduce the risk of developing cancer.
 
02 July 2008
Medicare item looks to prevention
 
The Federal Government has introduced a new Medicare item aimed at identifying people at high risk of type 2 diabetes and stopping the disease before it is diagnosed.
 
03 July 2008
Diabetes link for men whose sisters have PCOS
 
Men whose sisters have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
 
26 June 2008
People with type 1 satisfied with newer insulins
 
People with type 1 diabetes who take the newer insulin analogues report greater satisfaction and better quality of life.
 

Gestational diabetes

What is gestational diabetes?
• Gestational diabetes means getting diabetes while you are pregnant
• Gestational diabetes is usually found by having a blood test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy
• The extra stress of pregnancy on your body can cause high blood glucose (sugar) levels
• Your body may not be able to make enough insulin or may not be able to use it correctly during this time of your pregnancy
• This type of diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born
• Having gestational diabetes puts you at greater risk for type 2 diabetes as you get older

Can gestational diabetes harm my baby?
• The most common effect is that the baby can grow bigger and fatter than it should. This is because the baby takes the extra glucose from the mother and stores it as fat. A large baby can make labour and delivery hard.
• Well managed blood glucose levels can lower the risk of these problems
• Your baby will be watched closely after birth to make sure its breathing and blood glucose levels are okay.

Looking after gestational diabetes…
• Healthy eating is very important for looking after gestational diabetes. A dietitian can help you make the best food choices
• Regular physical activity is very important. Activity helps your muscles use glucose and this helps to keep blood glucose levels in check. Strong muscles help labour and delivery too. Walking is a good choice. Talk to your doctor about the best activity for you.
• You will need to check your blood glucose levels at home. Your diabetes educator, health worker and doctor will help you with this
• Women with gestational diabetes will need to see a dietitian and diabetes educator as well as their doctor

What should I be eating?
To look after gestational diabetes and have a healthy pregnancy, it’s important to:
• Have 3 small meals and small snacks between meals
• Include some carbohydrate foods at each meal and snack. Good choices are fruit or pasta or noodles or bread (multigrain is better) or high fibre cereals or low fat milk or yoghurt or sweet potato or corn or potato or legumes like baked beans
• Limit foods high in fat. Choose low fat milk and dairy foods, lean meat and skinless chicken. Try not to eat too many takeaway or processed foods
• Avoid foods high in sugar like soft drinks, cordials, lollies, sweets and cakes
• A dietitian can help you to make healthy food choices for you, your baby and the rest of your family

What happens after my baby is born?
Most of the time the diabetes goes away. But, you are at higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes as you get older.
You should have a blood test 6 weeks after the baby is born to see if the diabetes has completely gone
You can lessen your risk of getting diabetes as you get older by:
• Being physically active for at least 30 minutes on most, if not all days of the week
• Continue a healthy eating plan
• Keeping your weight at a healthy level
• Having a blood glucose level checked at least every two years.

 

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