Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a condition of glucose intolerance which affects only pregnant women, hence it is also called “diabetes in pregnancy”. It happens in about 4 to 10 percent of all pregnancies and often goes away after giving birth. Even though it does not affect all pregnant women, it is essential to learn whether or not one is afflicted with such condition to prevent complications later on.
Once a pregnant woman is diagnosed with such condition, she will have an important role in her own medical care. She will be asked by her physician to check for her gestational diabetes levels at home. Testing an individual’s blood glucose level is significant because it assists the mother and the physician to ascertain whether the exercise routine and eating regimen are trying to keep the blood sugar levels in control.
To test for gestational diabetes levels, one must have the following: blood glucose meter, test strip and lancet (or needle). Using the lancet, obtain a small drop of blood from the tip of your finger and cautiously apply the blood sample to the test strip. Set the strip in the blood glucose meter and wait simply wait for the results that will be shown on the screen in just a little bit. Be sure to dispose the lancet properly to avoid needle-prick accidents. And lastly, write down the results.
The objective of testing for gestational diabetes levels is to keep the blood sugar within normal limits. The physician will require the mother to check for her gestational diabetes levels usually one hour after breakfast, two hours after lunch and two hours after dinner. A day-to-day documentation of results is performed to provide the doctor useful information during prenatal check-ups. The preferred value before breakfast is below 95 ml/dL while the preferred value two hours after lunch and two hours after dinner is 120 mg/dL. In the event that these targets are not achieved, the doctor may prescribe the patient to start on insulin.
Testing for your gestational diabetes levels is a good opportunity to take control of your health. It allows you to make necessary lifestyle changes and to make sure that you and your baby will have a safe and wonderful nine months of journey together.
