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How to Reduce the Risk of Gestational Diabetes in Your Second Pregnancy?

Developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy can be a cause for concern for both the mother and the baby. If you had gestational diabetes in your first pregnancy, you may be worried about the possibility of it happening again during your second pregnancy.

While no one can predict if you will develop gestational diabetes, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing it. In this article, we will provide you with tips on how to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes during your second pregnancy.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Keeping your weight within the normal range is crucial in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes. Following a balanced diet and exercising regularly can help achieve this goal. A low-carb and low-fat diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats is ideal. Running for 30 minutes or walking for at least an hour a day can also help.
2. Plan Your Pregnancy: Getting pregnant before your thirties is advisable, as women above this age are more prone to gestational diabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes, you may be at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes. It is important to discuss this with your healthcare provider and plan your pregnancy accordingly.
3. Consider Your Ethnicity: Certain ethnicities, such as Latinos and African Americans, are more susceptible to gestational diabetes. While you cannot change your ethnicity, you can control your lifestyle and dietary habits.
4. Monitor Your Blood Glucose Levels: Measuring your blood glucose levels two months after getting pregnant can help with early diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Testing your blood glucose every two weeks until the end of your pregnancy can help you control your blood glucose levels and prevent complications for you and your baby.

Taking these steps can help reduce the risk of gestational diabetes during your second pregnancy. It is important to discuss any concerns you have with your healthcare provider and follow their advice.

By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can not only reduce the risk of gestational diabetes but also lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

Hope it helped!

Written by Dr.Albana Greca Sejdini, Md, MMedSc       

Medically reviewed by Dr.Ruden Cakoni, MD, Endocrinologist

Last reviewed 02/25/2023

References:

1. American Diabetes Association. (2018). Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy. Diabetes Care, 41(Supplement 1), S137-S143. doi: 10.2337/dc18-S012
2. Zhang, C., Tobias, D. K., Chavarro, J. E., Bao, W., Wang, D., & Ley, S. H. (2016). Adherence to healthy lifestyle and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: prospective cohort study. BMJ, 353, i15. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i15
3. Quinlivan, J. A., & Lam, L. T. (2011). Impact of nutrition and lifestyle on incidence of diabetes during pregnancy. Clinical Nutrition, 30(5), 541-548. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2011.04.002
4. Landon, M. B., Spong, C. Y., Thom, E., Carpenter, M. W., Ramin, S. M., Casey, B., . . . Gabbe, S. G. (2009). A multicenter, randomized trial of treatment for mild gestational diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 361(14), 1339-1348. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa0902430
5. NICE guideline. (2015). Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3