Now that you’re pregnant, after all the hard work you’ve done, it’s time to build your family.
What a wonderful time of life! Pregnancy can be the sweetest time of your life, but it can also come with its challenges. We can all enjoy a little sweetness in life, but when it shows up on a blood test, it’s time to get creative! Read on for some holistic guidelines for gestational diabetes.
What Is Gestational Diabetes?
When you’re pregnant—whether it’s your first time or your fifth—all moms need to undergo an oral glucose challenge test. This test typically takes place around the 24th week of pregnancy.
Here’s how it works:
Your OB care team will ask you to drink a cup of sugar water containing 75 grams of sugar.
(And believe me, it’s not the most pleasant drink!) After that, you’ll wait an hour for your blood to be drawn to measure your glucose levels.
Imagine chugging a giant cup of soda after fasting for 12 hours! Then, two hours after drinking the sugar water, they’ll check your blood sugar again.
If your fasting glucose is over 126 mg/dL or your post-drink level is over 140 mg/dL, it’s likely you have gestational diabetes.
Why Does Gestational Diabetes Happen?
Even if you’ve never had elevated blood sugar before, pregnancy changes things. When you’re pregnant, your body needs to supply nutrients—including glucose—to your baby. To ensure you don’t use up sugar too quickly, your body produces hormones like progesterone, oxytocin, estrogen, and cortisol through the placenta.
These hormones can create insulin resistance. If your body can’t balance insulin resistance with enough insulin production, blood sugar levels can rise.
Risk factors like PCOS, obesity, or autoimmune conditions before pregnancy increase your chances of developing gestational diabetes. These conditions often cause pre-existing insulin resistance, making it harder for your body to manage blood sugar even if it produces normal amounts of insulin.
Should We Rely Solely on Medications?
The answer is no. While medications like metformin can help, the core solution lies in lifestyle and diet changes.
Sugar is an efficient fuel for our body, and managing gestational diabetes means improving how our body uses it. The goal is to reverse insulin resistance through sustainable habits.
Holistic Guidelines for Managing Gestational Diabetes
1. Eat Smart
- Choose complex carbohydrates like barley, steel-cut oats, quinoa, or brown rice.
- Mix carbs with protein, such as black beans or navy beans, to stabilize blood sugar.
Pro Tip: If it looks too white, don’t eat it!
Skipping carbs entirely is a bad idea. Without carbs, blood sugar can drop too fast after spiking, putting your body on a rollercoaster ride. Plus, carbs and non-water-soluble fiber feed gut microbiota, helping your gut produce beneficial enzymes.
2. Watch Your Weight
Pregnancy weight gain should be monitored closely, especially if you’re overweight or obese.
- Overweight moms: Gain 15–25 lbs for one baby or 31–50 lbs for twins.
- Obese moms: Limit weight gain to 11–20 lbs for one baby or 25–42 lbs for twins.
Keeping weight in check is crucial for managing gestational diabetes and ensuring healthy baby growth.
3. Move Your Body
You don’t need to run a marathon, but regular exercise is essential for blood sugar management. Both cardio and strength training increase insulin sensitivity.
Options include:
- Walking for 15–30 minutes after meals.
- Prenatal yoga or light weight training.
- Easy hikes in nature.
Movement helps your body use sugar efficiently and keeps you energized during pregnancy.
It’s not difficult to manage gestational diabetes. And remember every step you take to take care of yourself is a step to make sure you have a healthy baby and a healthy life!
