Gestational Diabetes, Me & My Baby Before the Baby

Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be scary. Luckily, there are many things you can do to keep you and your baby healthy both during and after pregnancy.

Go to all your prenatal levels. Ask your health care appointments so your provider for suggestions. health care provider can keep you and your baby Ask your health care healthy. provider how much weight gain is right for Gestational diabetes can cause you during pregnancy. your baby to be larger than normal when you are pregnant. Staying within your weight gain It may cause your baby to have range can help control your low blood sugar, yellowish skin blood sugar levels and keep your (jaundice), or trouble breathing baby healthy. at birth. Keeping your prenatal appointments and managing Check your blood sugar your blood sugar can prevent levels regularly and write these conditions. them down to bring to your appointments. Learn about changes you Make a commitment must make to your daily You may not have to use to breastfeeding before meals. medications if you check your blood sugar levels often and your baby is born. When you have gestational control them. Breastfeeding can help delay or diabetes, the sugar in your blood prevent diabetes in the future can become too high. Changing Take insulin or other for you and your baby. It can what you eat can help keep your medications as prescribed also help prevent obesity in your blood sugar at a safe level. It is to control your blood child. important to receive nutritional sugar. advice and come up with a plan Sometimes healthy eating Plan to return for your that will help you manage your and exercise are not enough postpartum checkup after meals. to control blood your baby is born. sugar levels. Include safe Your diabetes may not go You may need exercise activities away after the baby is born. to start using in your daily Diabetes is a serious disease that insulin or other routine. may make it difficult for you medications to care for your baby if it is not Getting 30 minutes of to help prevent treated. Take care of yourself exercise a day five days health risks so you can care for your baby. a week can also help to you and your control blood sugar baby.

North Carolina Public Health | October 2010 Gestational Diabetes, Me & My Baby After the Baby

Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be scary. Luckily, there are many things you can do to keep you and your baby healthy both during and after pregnancy.

Return for your Breastfeed your baby. postpartum check-up Babies whose mothers have Your diabetes may not go away had gestational diabetes are after the baby is born. Have your at higher risk for developing blood sugar level checked six diabetes later on. Breastfeed- to twelve weeks after delivery ing can help prevent childhood to see if you still have diabetes. obesity and protect your child You may feel fine, but one in against diabetes in later years. ten mothers with gestational If you are having difficulties diabetes has diabetes after breastfeeding, ask for help. pregnancy too. If you have diabetes, you will need Tell your baby’s doctor treatment. If you do not get you had gestational treatment, you can suffer diabetes. serious side effects like heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, Your baby is at a higher risk and stroke. for developing diabetes and obesity in the future. Your Continue to see your baby’s doctor can help you with healthy lifestyle habits health care provider Make healthy food and regularly. for you and your baby to activity choices. Even if you do not help prevent this. Healthy foods such as vegetables have diabetes at your and fruit, lean meat, low fat Watch your postpartum check-up, dairy products and whole grains weight. many women with are one way to help you and gestational diabetes your baby stay healthy. Including develop diabetes over A healthy weight can help you physical activity in your daily the next five to ten schedule every day is another. years after their baby is control diabetes after pregnancy Adopting healthier habits now born. Your health care can prevent diabetes for you provider will let you or help prevent diabetes in the future. Ask your and your baby in the future. know if you need to be tested Ask your health care provider every year or every three health care provider about a healthy weight goal for you. for tips on how to eat smart years to see if you develop and move more, or go to www. diabetes at a later time. myeatsmartmovemore.com.

State of North Carolina | Department of Health and Human Services | Division of Public Health | www.ncdhhs.gov N.C. DHHS is an equal opportunity employer and provider. 10/10

North Carolina Public Health | October 2010