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06/30/06
12:47 PM
"Hi, I'm 32 and 28 weeks pregnant. I was just told that I have gestational diabetes. I was really disappointed. I have a fairly healthy lifestyle. I exercise 2-3 times a wk, and am not overweight. I also have a fairly healthy diet. I'm 5'1 and weigh 115lbs. My question is my mom had gestational diabetes also - is there any relationship there or could it be that my age of 32 is a factor also?
Thank-you! Thanh S."
Asked By:
thanhsamrith
Category:
Gestational Diabetes
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Expert Answers (1)
06/30/06
12:47 PM
Dean Thanh S.
I am asked this question all of the time, why did I get diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I live a healthy lifestyle? Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, however, there is also a genetic component. The fact that your mother had gestational diabetes is very significant. Children of parents with gestational diabetes are at a greater risk for developing diabetes themselves. Your age can be a factor as well, as we age our risk of developing diabetes increases. Now that you have gestational diabetes, and the fact that your mother had gestational diabetes, increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5-10 years. The numbers vary, but generally you have between a 20% and 50% risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next five to ten years. If you are a member of a particular ethnic group, especially African American, Hispanic/Latina, Southeast Asian and Indian, your risk is even higher. One other issue to be aware of : recent studies have shown that children of mothers with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life, they also have a higher risk of being obese. The following links will provide more detailed information.
http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/FS_Post-GDM.pdf
Gestational Diabetes
Six to twelve weeks after you deliver your baby you will need to repeat the glucose tolerance test to confirm that the diabetes has gone away. You will need to have your blood sugar tested every one to three years. To try to decrease your risk for developing diabetes try to increase your exercise to thirty minutes 5 days per week, maintain your healthy body weight, and continue to eat a diet low in saturated fat and calories.
Deborah Greenwood, APRN,BC-ADM, MEd, CDE
Financial Disclosure
I am asked this question all of the time, why did I get diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I live a healthy lifestyle? Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, however, there is also a genetic component. The fact that your mother had gestational diabetes is very significant. Children of parents with gestational diabetes are at a greater risk for developing diabetes themselves. Your age can be a factor as well, as we age our risk of developing diabetes increases. Now that you have gestational diabetes, and the fact that your mother had gestational diabetes, increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5-10 years. The numbers vary, but generally you have between a 20% and 50% risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next five to ten years. If you are a member of a particular ethnic group, especially African American, Hispanic/Latina, Southeast Asian and Indian, your risk is even higher. One other issue to be aware of : recent studies have shown that children of mothers with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life, they also have a higher risk of being obese. The following links will provide more detailed information.
http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/FS_Post-GDM.pdf
Gestational Diabetes
Six to twelve weeks after you deliver your baby you will need to repeat the glucose tolerance test to confirm that the diabetes has gone away. You will need to have your blood sugar tested every one to three years. To try to decrease your risk for developing diabetes try to increase your exercise to thirty minutes 5 days per week, maintain your healthy body weight, and continue to eat a diet low in saturated fat and calories.
Deborah Greenwood, APRN,BC-ADM, MEd, CDE
Financial Disclosure
Answered By:
Deborah Greenwood
Accreditations: MEd, CNS, BC-ADM, CDE
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