How to keep diabetes and pregnancy in control.
Posted by Travis
As if you don’t have enough to worry about when you get pregnant, keeping diabetes and pregnancy under control can have a huge impact on your baby’s health. At least in today’s world, a healthy pregnancy for a woman with diabetes is nothing to fear as long as you take the necessary steps.
The key to having the best pregnancy with diabetes is to keep your blood glucose (sugar) levels in the correct range. This is both important before and during pregnancy. To really take control of your blood glucose levels, you have to have a good plan for your meals, exercise, and insulin. As your pregnancy progresses, so will your plan for each of these. Make sure to keep track of your blood glucose throughout your pregnancy and talk with your doctor about what steps need to be taken. If you keep control of diabetes and pregnancy, you are sure to have a healthy baby with little trouble.
Nutrition
Before changing you current meal structure, talk with your dietitian about what nutrients you need to get to avoid problems with your pregnancy. Also talk about the steps necessary to avoid unbalanced bloog glucose levels.
You also need to speak with your doctor about the healthy amount of weight you should gain during pregnancy. If you are going into pregnancy weighing too much, its a bad idea to think about losing weight. This just isn’t the time for that. Normally, you will gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. Instead curb your weight gain to maybe only put on 15-25 pounds. You may need to gain more than 35 pounds if you are starting pregnancy underweight. Your doctor should be keeping track of your weight gain along the way.
Exercise
Now, we come to my favorite subject, exercise. Keeping diabetes and pregnancy in control can be easily done with exercise. This is especially true for people with type 2 diabetes. It is best if you get yourself in shape before even getting pregnant. Exercising throughout pregnancy will help you have an easier time throughout the 9 months and even during the delivery.
If you have never exercised before, you can start when you get pregnant. Don’t go straight into a strenuous exercise routine, but start slowly and work your way up. Talk with your doctor before starting a exercise routine to make sure there will be no complications.
If you have been involved in an exercise routine before getting pregnant, it is okay to continue with your current plan. Keep in mind that you are pregnant now and your goals will not be the same. You are preparing your body for an easier pregnancy and labor. With diabetes, you will be able to keep your health levels together and provide the best conditions for your baby.
Get the right nutrition for pregnancy and exercise to help with your diabetes and pregnancy. Swimming, walking, low impact aerobics, and yoga are all great exercises to do while pregnant. You can keep your diabetes in control even when you are pregnant. I will give you all the information you need to get the right exercise and nutrition program under way in my newsletter and free guide to be Be One Hot Mama.