Tues. House Call: Gestational Diabetes
By: Shelby Levins
Updated: July 12, 2011
MIDLAND - In this week's Tuesday House Call, Dr. Stephen Ponder discusses the dangers of gestational diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes affects 7-18% of all US pregnancies. GD often goes away after a woman's pregnancy, but 5-10% of those new moms will remain diabetic.
GD moms have a 35-60% chance of developing diabetes over the next 10-20 years. Children born to GD moms also have a higher risk for childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can be prevented after GD by making life style and eating habit changes.
Four things a "former" GD Mom can do -
- Get re-checked for diabetes 6-12 weeks after delivery
- Get re-checked for diabetes every 3 years afterward
- Try to return to your pre-pregnancy weight 6-12 months after the baby is born: make lifestyle changes
- Remind your doctor and/or next OB that you have had GD
