10 Terrific Tips for Weight Control During Pregnancy for Women with Diabetes
At one time, a woman with diabetes was advised to find birth control pills and prevent pregnancy. Thank Heaven, times have moved forward and today, with proper care before and during pregnancy, a woman with diabetes can enjoy the prospects of a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Being pregnant is one of the happiest times of life. Unless you are craving carbs and candy like never before. It doesn’t help, either, when people tell you that it’s OK to have that second helping because you are “eating for two”.
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy is NOT a good thing, as your doctor has probably told you.
It can be difficult to stick to those guidelines for eating while pregnant, especially for women with diabetes.
Diabetes And Conception
Gestational diabetes does not occur until well into the pregnancy and happens to women who have not had diabetes prior to pregnancy. It often disappears after the baby is born. However, it can recur in the future, so a woman who experiences gestational diabetes may have to take steps to ensure her lifestyle and diet help her to stay free from the disease.
Pre-Existing Diabetes And Potential Problems
Women who have pre-existing diabetes must have complete control over their blood sugar before they conceive, for their baby’s well-being. The baby’s organs and brain develop first, so blood sugar balance is critical. Most diabetic-related fatal birth defects happen before the mother even knows she is pregnant.
High blood sugars in the first two weeks of the baby’s development can be disastrous. In the later stages of pregnancy, out-of-control blood sugar can lead to several dangerous situations, among them a baby that has grown too large. Once defects have happened, they can’t be undone, so it is imperative that control over blood sugar be established before conception.
Getting It Together
It takes about six months to be sure everything is “together” in terms of diet, exercise program, and insulin needs to ensure proper proportions for control of blood sugar prior to conception. Unless diabetes is not controlled well or is out-of-control, fertility is usually not affected.
However, when preconception blood sugar is out of whack, birth defects such as macrosomia (babies over 9.5 pounds), immature lung development, cardiovascular or central-nervous-system malformation and cleft palate are all possibilities. The baby can develop high insulin levels of its own which can potentially lead to severe postpartum hypoglycemia in the baby after birth.
Risks Of Uncontrolled Blood Sugar
The mother with poorly controlled diabetes is at increased risk for miscarriage in the early weeks of pregnancy. The risk rate is twice as high for miscarriage in women with uncontrolled diabetes.
Complications can arise in diabetes itself, including neuropathy and retinopathy, both of which can worsen during pregnancy if blood sugar is not controlled well.
Things A Woman Can Do For Herself
A woman can take control of her life and diabetes before pregnancy by developing some lifestyle habits that are beneficial, not only during pregnancy, but lifelong as well. She can be as close to her ideal weight as possible before conception and follow a diet that keeps blood sugar under control.
By staying balanced and avoiding either hyper- or hypoglycemia through the use of insulin and/or diet, a woman increases the odds for a good pregnancy.
Build A Support Team
The best thing a woman can do for herself is to have a team of support people to surround her prior to conception. An endocrinologist or doctor who specializes in diabetes and is skilled in dealing with pregnant women along with an educator/nurse is a good starting place.
An ophthalmologist and dietician are wise additions as well as an obstetrician who is experienced with high-risk pregnancies and care of pregnant women with diabetes. The combination of expertise and support will go a long way to helping both mother and baby enjoy a healthy pregnancy and birth.
10 Terrific Tips for Weight Control During Pregnancy for Women with Diabetes
How can you control your weight while pregnant? We have 10 great tips from doctors that are going to help you tremendously.
- Eat in Moderation but Eat Frequently. Eat in moderation; sounds like fun, doesn’t it? You actually only need about an additional 350 calories each day to feed your growing baby and in your last trimester, only about 450 more calories. The trick to not feeling hungry all the time is to eat in moderation and choose snacks that really satisfy.
- Fill Up on Water. Water is also boring, but a necessary part of your diet. Drink at least 10 eight-ounce glasses of water each day. If you get bored with water, try adding a few slices of fruit to change things up. Drinking plenty of water will not only fill you up, but it can prevent one of the problems that comes with pregnancy; constipation.
- Make Your Starches Work for You. Carbs can help prevent morning sickness and feelings of nausea, however, simple carbs, such as bread and pasta, can cause you to gain weight quickly. Choose complex carbs, such as whole grain bread or brown rice, to help you feel full.
- Walk Every Day. Get in some exercise every day by walking. Walk a minimum of 30 minutes per day. Better still, buy a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps each day.
- Keep Up with Your Workouts. If you are already doing regular kickboxing classes, yoga classes, or spinning, there is absolutely no reason for you to stop unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Be Flexible. Of course, you want to watch your weight, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge yourself on occasion. Is it your birthday? Feel free to have a nice slice of cake and a scoop of ice cream!
- Talk about Weight Control. Make sure that you voice your concerns to your doctor or midwife. Ask for their advice and be sure that your weight is staying on track. Tell your partner about your plan to help control your weight and ask them for support.
- Get Your Rest. Studies have shown that not getting your Z’s can actually lead to weight gain by slowing down your metabolism. Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
- Avoid Empty Calories. Empty calories would be soda, cheese puffs, and cookies. Foods that have little or no nutritional value should be ditched for the most part.
- Breastfeed. While this won’t prevent you from gaining weight while pregnant, it can help you to shed some serious pounds afterward. Breastfeeding burns some serious calories while increasing metabolism.
Reference
A well-balanced diet must contain a variety of foods. Eating a balanced diet will help ensure the body functions as it was designed.
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