Monitoring gestational diabetes can sometimes be complicated. Depending on the level of sugar in the system and whether a change in diet and exercise is sufficient to get the metabolic disorder under control, the doctor will determine how often it is necessary to test blood sugar. Especially at first, it may be necessary to monitor blood sugar levels more often, in order to see how eating, exercising and other activities, or lack thereof, affects the diabetes.
More Often than Not
The general rule of thumb for checking blood sugar is as often as possible.
Before and after eating and exercise is especially important. However, if mom becomes ill or does not feel good, it may be necessary to test more often and adjust insulin shots, if necessary. For example, the flu can really play mean games with metabolic disorders. Eating schedules are off and it is simply impossible to take a long walk or even lift hand weights.
If control of gestational diabetes is managed by exercise and diet, but mom is feeling yucky and schedules are off, it is important to call the doctor and find out what is necessary to maintain appropriate sugar levels. If blood sugar level dips below 60 mg/dl mom and baby are both at risk for serious complications of gestational diabetes.
According to Manage Your Gestational Diabetes by Lois Jovanovic-Peterson, M.D., several symptoms will let mom-to-be know she is in trouble. Then, it is vital to eat something with sugar content like candy, a glass of milk or juice, or something the doctor has suggested to get blood sugar levels up, before something goes terribly wrong. The doctor provides a list of possible symptoms. If mom has low blood sugar, she may experience:
- Dizziness
- Shakiness
- Sweating
- Increased Heart Rate
- Clumsiness
- Jerky Motions
- Hunger
- Headache
- Unexplained Moodiness
- Paleness
- Confusion
- Lack of Concentration
- Mouth Tingles
Of course, any one of these symptoms may be due to other circumstances. But, when dealing with gestational diabetes, get used to taking absolutely no chances. Test blood sugar levels. If normal eating and exercise is not possible and not controlling the diabetes the doctor may require mom to come in for a checkup. It may also be necessary to be hospitalized until mom-to-be feels better and is able to resume a regular diet for gestational diabetes.
The Need to Know
If mom has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it is important to NOT keep it a secret from friends, family members, and even coworkers. Should blood sugar levels become too low, it is possible to pass out, in conjunction with the other adverse insulin reactions mentioned above.
Therefore, it is important to let people know what to do and who to call, if mom cannot do it for herself. It will also be necessary to wear some sort of identification bracelet or necklace. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong. But, if mom is in some sort of accident or has a reaction in a public place, unfamiliar people or emergency health care workers need to be aware of any serious medical conditions, so the proper medical treatment can be administered right away.
Miracles of Modern Medicine
While mom may not feel lucky to have gestational diabetes, it really is fortunate to have the miracle of modern medical technology. Less than 2 decades ago, it was impossible for expectant mothers, or anyone else for that matter, to test for blood sugar levels throughout the day. Colorful, handheld monitors have not been available for public use for very long.
Today, mom can check her blood as often as she feels necessary. If diet and exercise are sufficient to keep gestational diabetes controlled, it will only be necessary to test first thing in the morning and after breakfast, lunch and dinner. If insulin shots are part of the treatment, it will be important to test at least 8 times a day. The doctor may even want mom to get up in the middle of the night, in order to make sure that an insulin shot is not needed.
Although frustration and a host of other emotions are justified, try to think of it as a blessing that modern medicine makes it possible to do what it takes to give the baby a chance to be born healthy, without any adverse side effects from the gestational diabetes. Instead of guessing what is needed, and constantly worrying about the symptoms of low blood sugar, mom can test before and after every meal, before and after exercise, as often as necessary when she is feeling ill, and whenever she simply wants to make sure that the blood sugar is within the normal range. Before something goes terribly wrong, she can call the doctor and make any adjustments to treatment for gestational diabetes, thus improving the chances for safely delivering a healthy baby.