Diabetes, Pregnant. Precautions And Dietary Modifications?

Posted on Sat, 10 Sep 2011

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 Answered on

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Diabetes and 28 weeks and 2 days pregnant

Yesterday i find out i got diabetes and i am 28 weeks and 2 day pregnant.
i have never had it before.

What are the necessary precautions that I need to check?
Do I need to get some extra tests done?
Do I need any dietary modification?
What should I be asking my treating doctor about this new finding?

Answered by Dr. L K Shankdhar (18 hours later)

Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Although you have not mentioned the values with which your diagnosis of Diabetes was made, still find below the recently changed values:
Fasting >92 mg%
1 hour after gucose drink: >180 mg%
2 hour after glucose drink: >153 mg%
Such a Diabetes which appears for the first time during pregnancy is called Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

General precautions after diagnosis are as follows:-
First try to control sugar with diet planning keeping fasting >90 mg% and post meal <120 mg%
No attempt should be made to reduce weight of the mother, even if she were obese, during pregnancy, instead 500 calories are given over and above her routine requirement
In case diabetes is not controlled with Diet alone, Human Insulin shall be the preferred choice.
Regarding other tests, none other than repeated blood glucose is required.

Hope I have answered your query. If you have any follow up queries I will be available to answer them.

With best wishes
Dr. LK Shankhdhar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T