Free Gestational Diabetes Community Seminar

Gestational diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy is a controllable condition that affects 2-5% of pregnant women. Get the facts:

• What is gestational diabetes?
• What are the risk factors?
• How is it treated?
• Are there any possible health risks to you or your unborn child?

Thursday, August 27, 2009 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

GoodHealth Commons
301 Seton Pkwy, Ste 203
Round Rock, TX 78665

The seminar is sponsored by SetonBabyTalk.com, presented by Seton Diabetes Education Center and co-hosted by GoodHealth Commons, a unique integrative wellness center. Limited seating available.

To register, please call (512) 324-4456 or sign up online (Link: http://www.seton.net/about_seton/calendar/seminars_registration.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. This condition currently impacts between two and five percent of all pregnant women. Gestational diabetes is associated with hormonal changes that interfere with the body's ability to use blood sugar (glucose) effectively. Generally, it shows up around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy when the placental hormones are increasing. Although it usually resolves after the baby is born, having gestational diabetes increases the risk the mom will develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

"Weight and age are key risk factors for developing diabetes," says Seton Diabetes Educator Kimberly Morris, MS, RD, LD, who works with patients with diabetes to help them learn how to manage their disease. "Being overweight or obese prior to conception and/or over age 25 when you are pregnant increase your chance of developing gestational diabetes."

Other risk factors include being part of specific ethic groups, including Hispanic, African American, Native American, South or East Asian or Pacific Islander; family history of diabetes and having gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.

Think Before You Conceive

"It's important for women with risk factors for diabetes to think ahead. If you have never had your blood sugar tested, talk to your doctor. Doctors can screen for pre-diabetes and diabetes prior to conception. For a woman who has diabetes prior to conception, its important to be in good control from the beginning because the baby is more vulnerable to miscarriage or congenital deformities when exposed to high blood sugars during the first trimester. In addition, although gestational diabetes usually occurs in the third trimester, some women do develop it earlier in their pregnancy and will need to know their treatment options as blood sugars naturally trend upwards throughout the pregnancy. Miscarriage and congenital deformities are not associated with gestational diabetes that develops later in the pregnancy but there are other important outcomes to consider when dealing with blood sugar control and your unborn child, adds Kim.

The main problem with gestational diabetes is when too much glucose continually crosses through the placenta and causes the fetus to grow too large too quickly. Having a large baby is a common concern. If the baby needs to be delivered earlier than expected due to size, the lungs may not be fully developed leading to respiratory distress. In addition, newborns of moms with gestational diabetes are tested for low blood sugar that can occur after separation from the placenta.

Uncontrolled blood sugars during pregnancy can mean a baby born with excessive fat around the abdominal area. "It just starts the baby off on the wrong foot, so to speak," says Kim. "If the baby already has excessive fat around the mid-section at birth, the child is already carrying a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. We can help reduce a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes in children if sugar levels are controlled during pregnancy."

There are also risks for the mom. The most common one is the need for a cesarean section which is often necessary when giving birth to a larger infant to prevent injury to the head and shoulders if delivered through the birth canal.

Controlling Gestational Diabetes

"Treatment for gestational diabetes is not one-size-fits-all," comments Kim. We start with a meal plan and if possible add physical activity. The meal plan is the cornerstone to blood sugar control. Doctors may refer their patients to a dietitian for consultation."

"One of the challenges of gestational diabetes is that blood sugar can be in good control one week but not the next. This is due to the changes in hormones as the pregnancy progresses. Some women need medication in addition to a meal plan to control blood sugars. Often there is an emotional factor that needs to be addressed. Women are concerned and scared and it helps for them to know about their options. Our goal is to provide a supportive environment throughout the pregnancy.

After the Baby is Born

"Women who have had gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes sometime during their lives. Increased risk is between 30 and 70 percent. That's quite a range, but even the low end is high," says Kim.

Even if youve never had gestational diabetes, you can reduce the odds of developing Type 2 by losing weight within six months to a year after delivery. Even if a woman cannot reach her goal weight within one year after delivery, any weight loss will help.

"We really recommend breast feeding. In addition to the numerous health benefits for the mom and baby, it takes more calories to make breast milk than to make the baby which helps naturally with weight loss.

"Be proactive and talk to your doctor about gestational diabetes early, especially if you have risk factors," recommends Kim. "Being informed is very important and can help you take the best possible care of yourself and your unborn child."

For More Information

Kimberly prepared a list of questions and answers about gestational diabetes that is posted on SetonBabyTalk.com, our new site dedicated to expectant and new moms, dads and other family members. You'll find it in the Resource Center. You can also find more information about gestational diabetes on GoodHealth.com's online health encyclopedia.

Kimberly Morris MS, RD, LD
Seton Diabetes Education Center
5555 N Lamar Blvd., Bldg D 125
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-324-1891

Kimberly is a Registered Dietitian with Seton Diabetes Education Center. Seton Diabetes Education Center has a team of certified diabetes educators, nurses, and dietitians providing individual and group diabetes education classes for gestational diabetes, pregnant women who have existing diabetes, and adults with pre-diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. All patients are accepted by physician order with classes offered in north, central and south Austin locations. If you find out you have diabetes, call to find out more about enrolling in this program.