1. By: Patrick Perche, Elizabeth Kelley, and Jamie Horne

2. What is
gestational
diabetes?
•A type of
diabetes that
women get
during
pregnancy.
• Pregnancy
hormones can
block insulin
from doing its
job.

3. Insulin
 A hormone that lowers the level of glucose in the
blood.
 Made by the beta cells of the pancreas and released
into the blood when the glucose level goes up.

4. Who is affected?
 Women during pregnancy
 1 in 5 pregnant women have gestational diabetes
 More common in pregnant women over the age of 25
 More likely in Hispanic, Black, Native American, or
Asian women
 More likely in overweight/obese mothers
 The child can also be affected

5. Causes
 Older than 25 when you are pregnant
 Gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
 Baby has a birth defect
 High blood pressure
 Too much amniotic fluid
 Previous unexplained miscarriage or stillbirth
 Overweight before pregnancy
 Family history of diabetes

6. Symptoms
 Usually there are no symptoms, or the symptoms are
very mild. However symptoms may include:
-Blurred vision
-Fatigue
-Frequent infections, including those of the
bladder, vagina, and skin
-Increased thirst
-Increased urination
-Nausea and vomiting
-Weight loss despite increased appetite

7. How do you KNOW?
 Usually starts about halfway through pregnancy
 All pregnant women should receive an oral glucose
tolerance test
-Oral glucose tolerance test: laboratory method to
check how the body breaks down (metabolizes)
sugar.
 Once diagnosed, test glucose at home by pricking your
finger with a glucose reading machine.

8. Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
The goal of monitoring is to keep your blood
sugar as close to normal as possible.
These ranges include:
Time of Test Target Blood Sugar Reading
Before Breakfast Plasma: below 105. Whole blood: below 95
2 Hours after Meals Plasma: below 95. Whole blood: below 120

9. Treatment
 Watching your Baby  Diet and Exercise
-check size and health of -eat a well planned diet
baby through ultrasound to have the right balance
and nonstress tests of proteins, fats, and
-nonstress test: machine carbs
hears and displays baby’s -exercise allows your
heart rate and compares body to use glucose
pattern of heartbeat to without extra insulin
movements

10. Expectations
 Most are able to control the disease and avoid harm to
themselves and their baby
 Larger babies at birth
 Birth injury because of large size
 Delivery by c-section
 Baby is more likely to have hypoglycemia (periods of
low blood sugar) during the first few days of life

11. How will it affect your baby?
 If your baby is too overweight, it can lead to
macrosomia
-macrosomia: “big baby syndrome”; fetus is
abnormally large
 Overweight in childhood and adulthood
 Chances if jaundice are increased

12. Complications
 Delivery-related complications due to the infant's large
size
 Development of diabetes later in life
 Increased risk of newborn death and stillbirth
 Low blood sugar or illness in the newborn

13. Prevention
 Beginning prenatal care
 Knowing the risk factors
 Prenatal screening at 24-28 weeks pregnant
 Losing weight before getting pregnant

14. Nutrition Basics for Women with Gestational
Diabetes
•3 small meals and 2-3
small snacks
•Less carbs at breakfast
•Choose foods high in
fiber
•Choose foods with less
sugar and fat
•Drink 8 cups of liquid
per day
•Get enough vitamins
and minerals

15. Sources
 Storck, S. (2011, October 12). Gestational diabetes: Glucose intolerance during pregnancy.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001898
 Definition of Insulin. (2010, July 25). Retrieved from
http://www.babycenter.com/0_gestationaldiabetes_2058.bc
 Health and Pregnancy. Gestational diabetes- Treatment Overview. (2011, March 7)
Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/gestational-diabetes-treatment-
overview
 Marin, Lucian (2008,November) Retrieved from http://fatbabies.wordpress.com/
 Kassir, Kari (2011, September) Macrosomia. Retrieved from
http://pediatrics.med.nyu.edu/conditions-we-treat/conditions/macrosomia
 Wooley, Elizabeth (2001, November 1) Nutritional Basics for Women with Gestational
Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.diabeticmommy.com/34-gestational-diabetes-
diet.html
 WebMD (2005-2012) Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes. Retrieved from
http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/gestational_diabetes?page=3
 American Diabetes Association (1995-2012) Gestational Diabetes. Retrieved from
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetesbasics/gestational/?cr=redcpcggfreeinformationgestati
onal&gclid=CPToudaCt64CFQpU7AodfV2enw