One of the main concerns obstetricians have during prenatal care is the control of blood glucose levels in pregnancy. In the past, doctors didn’t request or worry much about this issue, which often led to serious problems that were only discovered when an almost always irreversible complication occurred for the mother or baby.

Nowadays, an extremely important test is requested at every prenatal appointment that can check the amount of glucose in the future mother’s blood. This test, called the glucose tolerance test, should be performed after a 12-hour fast, and requires drinking an extremely sweet liquid. Afterward, blood is collected for analysis. If a high blood glucose level is diagnosed, the mother must take serious care of her health to regulate these levels, as she is suffering from gestational diabetes.

blood glucose can be monitored using a device that checks the glucose level in the blood

Gestational diabetes affects about 7% of women during pregnancy, and happens when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to convert the body’s glucose into energy. This glucose builds up in the bloodstream and can cause serious harm to both mother and baby. Blood glucose in pregnancy, especially during the third trimester, must be even more tightly controlled than at other stages, because in the final stretch the woman’s pancreas works overtime to produce insulin both for her body and to nourish the fetus. If this process isn’t normalized, symptoms from a lack of insulin will appear.

A future mother who develops gestational diabetes runs the risk of remaining diabetic after pregnancy, in addition to blood pressure that can start to rise and require ongoing control and medication as well. Due to the high blood glucose in pregnancy, the baby will also be affected and may develop jaundice and excessive weight gain, becoming a very large baby, which can even complicate delivery. This problem is medically known as macrosomia. Because of this glucose overload, the baby may suffer from childhood obesity all the way into adulthood, facing glucose imbalances from birth. In many cases, babies end up suffering from hypoglycemia due to the abrupt drop in glucose levels right after birth.

What Should You Do If You Have High Blood Glucose During Pregnancy?

After you receive your blood glucose test result, your obstetrician will advise you on which measures to take. You will be given a diet, which must be followed strictly, mainly by reducing your consumption of sweets and drinks containing caffeine. Foods rich in carbohydrates should be cut out or drastically reduced from your menu, such as rice, potatoes, and bread, opting instead for whole-grain foods. This will help control your blood glucose levels in pregnancy.

It is also advisable to engage in physical activity, which has been proven to help reduce blood glucose levels during pregnancy, such as swimming, light walking, water aerobics, yoga, and Pilates. Of course, these activities should only be performed if recommended and approved by your obstetrician.

If all of these measures are not enough to control blood glucose during pregnancy, your obstetrician may recommend the use of insulin, which should be used without worrying that it could harm the baby. Unlike glucose, which crosses the placenta and affects the baby, injectable insulin only serves to replace the lacking hormone in the mother. Remember, having high blood glucose or gestational diabetes in pregnancy does not always mean a cesarean delivery is necessary. With proper and strict prenatal care, following all recommendations, it is absolutely possible for your baby to be born naturally.

See also: Anemia During Pregnancy – Things Every Pregnant Woman Should Know

Photo: Alisha Vargas, Elizabeth