Gestational Diabetes

What you can do

As soon as you are informed you have gestational diabetes, ask your doctor to immediately refer you to a diabetes educator at your hospital. The complications of GDM do not have to happen, especially if you learn all you need to know to have a safe, healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Here is what you will learn from a diabetes educator:

• How and when to check  your blood sugar, and what the numbers tell you
• How to prevent developing type 2 diabetes in the future, including the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby
• Planning your meals and snacks
• Starting an exercise routine
• If necessary, how to take medication or inject insulin

The American Diabetes Association recommends that, to ensure you had gestational diabetes, and not type 2 diabetes, ask your doctor to check your blood sugar 6 – 12 weeks after you have your baby, and every 3 years after that.