Postpartum Follow-up Care Important for Gestational Diabetes
About 4% of all pregnant women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. What is it? Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, usually beginning between the 24th and 28th week. A woman with gestational diabetes can't utilize the glucose (sugar) in her blood as effectively as she should. This makes the levels of blood glucose too high.
High blood sugar needs to be treated to prevent problems for both mom and baby. Good prenatal care will help you to manage gestational diabetes. Your doctor will prescribe a diet and tell you to get regular exercise. You will need blood tests to check your blood sugar and may have to use a glucometer to check your sugar at home. Sometimes insulin is needed to help control blood glucose.
Usually, it is thought that gestational diabetes goes away after the baby is born and everything is fine. But, a recent study of pregnant women at a Rhode Island hospital, showed that women who have had gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of continued glucose intolerance even after the birth of the baby. Only 54% of all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes had follow-up glucose testing during their postpartum visit. Of that 54%, more than a third still had abnormal glucose levels.
So, when it comes to gestational diabetes, not only is excellent prenatal care very important for both mom and baby, but postpartum visits and follow-up glucose tolerance testing are also imperative for the health of the new mom.
Sources:
"Follow-up Often Lacking After Gestational Diabetes." In Diabetes Today. 04 Dec 2006. American Diabetes Association. 13 Dec 2006
Russell, MD, Michelle A., Phipps, MD MPH, Maureen G., Olson, Courtney L., Welch, MD, MPH, H. Gilbert, and Carpenter, MD, Marshall W. "Rates of Postpartum Glucose Testing After Gestational Diabetes." Obstetrics & Gynecology 01 Dec 2006 1456-1462. 13 Dec 2006.
Photo by Benjamin Earwicker
Comments
I had GD and *never* had any follow-up with any of my doctors. They’ve all been of the mind that it went away with the pregnancy. I know that’s not the case, I’ve been around diabetics enough to know the symptoms, and I know I still have issues with insulin resistance.
Also, the fact that I had GD was enough to be turned down for life insurance. It must mean something!