Gestational Diabetes

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Gestational Diabetes Treatment

The goals of treatment are to maintain blood glucose levels within normal limits during the duration of the pregnancy, and ensure the well-being of the fetus.

Close monitoring of the mother and the fetus should continue throughout the pregnancy. Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels allows the woman to participate in her care. Fetal monitoring to assess the fetal size and well-being may include ultrasound exams and non-stress tests.

A non-stress test is a very simple painless test for you and your baby. An electronic fetal monitor (a machine that hears and displays your baby's heartbeat) is placed on your abdomen. When the baby moves, its heart rate normally increases 15 to 20 beats above its regular rate.

Your health care provider can look at the pattern of your baby's heartbeat in relationship to its movements and determine whether the baby is doing well. Your health care provider will look for three accelerations of 15 beats per minute over the baby's normal heart rate, occurring within a 20 minute period.

Dietary management provides adequate calories and nutrients required for pregnancy and to control blood glucose levels. Patients should receive nutritional counseling by a registered dietician. (See diet for diabetics.)

If dietary management does not control blood glucose levels within the recommended range, insulin therapy should be initiated. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is required for effective treatment with insulin.