Increased sugar during pregnancy: what is dangerous and how to reduce it

Measuring blood glucose concentration at home

To determine the concentration of glycemia in the blood, it is not necessary to go to the laboratory.
Today there are devices for self-measurement of sugar levels - glucometers. You can purchase the device at a medical equipment store. To check your glucose levels, you should additionally buy test strips. Before measuring glycemic concentration, you need to read the operating instructions for the device.

Algorithm for using a glucometer:

• wash your hands with toilet soap;
• warm your fingers to room temperature (to do this you need to massage your hands);
• treat the area of ​​the finger where the puncture will be made with alcohol;
• turn on the device;
• enter code;
• insert the test strip into the special socket of the glucometer;
• Use a scarifier to pierce your finger in the side;
• drop a few drops of serum onto the area where the test strip is applied;
• Apply cotton wool soaked in alcohol to the puncture site;
• evaluate the result on the monitor after 10-30 seconds.

Sometimes your home blood glucose meter can be wrong.

The most common reasons for obtaining an unreliable result:

• using test strips intended for another device model;
• using expired test strips;
• non-compliance with the temperature regime when collecting a portion of plasma;
• excessive or insufficient amount of blood for testing;
• contamination of test strips and hands;
• penetration of the disinfectant solution into the plasma;
• the device was not;
• non-compliance with the storage conditions of the test strips (low or high temperature, not tightly closed bottle).

To check the accuracy of the result, it is recommended to retake the test at the laboratory.

High sugar levels

Causes of high blood sugar levels:

• Failure to comply with the rules before taking the test.
• The woman has type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• The woman has diabetes during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (hereinafter GDM) is diabetes that appears during pregnancy. Such diabetes is associated with changes in the body of a pregnant woman and with the load that falls on the pancreas. Pregnancy diabetes affects approximately 10% of women.

Usually, after the birth of a child, GDM goes away without a trace. But there is one “but”... Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy indicates a woman’s predisposition to this disease. There is a risk that over time real diabetes will develop, so after such a call you need to very carefully monitor your health, adhere to a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.

Risk factors for GDM:

• Excess body weight.
• Diagnosed diabetes mellitus in relatives.
• The expectant mother is over 30 years old.
• Pregnancy with more than one fetus.
• High blood pressure.

Consequences of high sugar levels in a pregnant woman

High blood sugar levels in a pregnant woman are primarily dangerous not for the woman, but for the child.

Excess glucose easily passes through the placenta to the baby, but insulin is large and cannot pass through the placental filter. The baby’s body is not yet able to cope with such an amount of glucose, the pancreas is not yet ready for such loads, so negative changes occur in the child’s body.

• The child's subcutaneous fat begins to actively grow, and the shoulder girdle and abdomen increase significantly in size. By the time of birth, the baby reaches a weight of more than 4–4.5 kilograms.
• Due to high sugar levels, the functioning of the placenta is disrupted, it increases in size, thickens, and glucose crystals damage the delicate vessels of the placenta. Since the placenta does not perform its function well, the child experiences oxygen starvation (hypoxia). In severe cases, this can lead to intrauterine death of the child.
• In conditions of high sugar, the risk of congenital malformations in a child increases.
• The risk of polyhydramnios increases.
• The large weight of the child makes childbirth difficult, it can be protracted, and the child can receive birth injuries (clavicle fracture, cerebral hemorrhages). During natural childbirth, you often have to resort to the use of obstetric forceps and a vacuum extractor. Therefore, with a large fetal weight, priority is given to a cesarean section.

Recommendations for high sugar levels

However, everything is not so scary. With timely diagnosed diabetes in pregnant women, these severe consequences can be easily avoided. The main thing is to follow these recommendations:

1. The first and most important thing is diet. Most often, if you follow a diet, your sugar level will return to normal and drug therapy will not be needed.
2. Daily walks in the fresh air, yoga classes for pregnant women, as glucose is consumed when muscles work. Also, with physical exercise, uterine blood flow improves, and more oxygen reaches the baby. Walking is a good prevention of fetal hypoxia.
3. If the above recommendations do not bring the desired result, you may have to resort to prescribing insulin. After delivery, it can be stopped and glucose levels will be at normal levels without medication.

Diet for high glucose levels

Let's talk in more detail about the diet when blood sugar levels exceed norms during pregnancy.

• Nutrition should be balanced and complete. You should never go hungry during pregnancy! There should be 5-6 meals in small portions.
• Exclude easily digestible carbohydrates (sweets, baked goods, potatoes, starch, sugary drinks, white bread, honey, semolina, fast food). Completely eliminate sugar from your diet.
• Limit the amount of fat. Give preference to turkey, rabbit, and chicken meat.
• Drink 2 liters of clean water per day.
• Give preference to raw vegetables and fruits.

This diet will help you not only control your blood glucose levels, but also prevent you from gaining extra pounds.

Prevention

The main measure to prevent GDM is a healthy lifestyle. There are no direct measures to help prevent GDM. Women during pregnancy should regularly monitor their glycemia. If there are risk factors, it is recommended to carry out tests at the first pregnancy checks.

In studies, low-calorie diets reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 60%, regardless of the participants' body weight. Experts recommend eating sugary and low-fat foods and avoiding raw meat. On the other hand, fruits, whole grains, vegetables and fish are recommended for pregnant women.

Severe obesity not only increases the risk of developing T2DM. Doctors advise women to lose weight if they have a definite desire to have children. They should never gain weight beyond normal levels during pregnancy. You can prevent sudden weight gain through diet and exercise.

Physical activity stimulates blood circulation, improves tissue oxygenation and other body functions. Research shows that the incidence of discomfort during pregnancy (eg, low back pain, constipation, varicose veins, mood swings) also decreases with an active lifestyle. Regular exercise also reduces the risk of premature birth.

Constipation

Advice! It is not recommended to treat diabetes at home with folk remedies or dietary changes without consulting a doctor. At the first manifestations (symptoms) of diabetes, a woman should consult a specialist at an early stage. Diabetes diagnosed late is difficult to treat. Glycemia should be lowered under the supervision of a doctor.

Before becoming pregnant, women are advised to undergo screening, even if there are no signs of diabetes. Hyperglycemia can negatively affect health and have adverse effects on organ development. It is important to understand that both excessively low (low) sugar and high sugar can harm the child. Therefore, if hypoglycemic side effects occur, you should visit a doctor.

Interesting:

• Normal blood sugar levels in a pregnant woman, causes of diabetes, symptoms of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, recommended examinations and potential complications
• Causes of gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, complications, symptoms, methods of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention
• Blood sugar levels in women, types of examinations, preparation, interpretation of results, causes of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and potential complications
• Diet principles for gestational diabetes in pregnant women and sample menu
• Insulin rate 2 hours after a glucose load, indications, contraindications for the study, preparation and interpretation of results
• Causes of prediabetes, symptoms, diagnosis, blood sugar levels, treatment methods, prevention and potential complications
• The main causes of high blood sugar, symptoms, methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment

When blood sugar results should raise alarms

For an ordinary person on an empty stomach, a blood pressure taken from a finger should be from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l, while in pregnant women a value of up to 5.2 mmol/l is allowed. Two hours after eating, in the first option the value should not exceed 7.8 mmol/l, and in the second - 6.7. But if, nevertheless, the indicators during pregnancy are close to those that should be observed in non-pregnant women, there is no need to panic, because the body is rebuilding to a new job and minor disruptions are possible.

If the glucose level shows a result significantly higher than normal, then the test must be repeated. After all, the indicator is influenced by many factors that the pregnant woman could simply not take into account: food consumed in the evening before donating blood; stressful state; lack of sleep; cold or infectious disease; physical activity, even regular walking.

When the repeated result also deviates from the norm, it is necessary to conduct a more thorough examination of the pregnant woman in order to prevent her from developing diabetes and to exclude harm to the child.

How to bring blood sugar levels back to normal during pregnancy

A woman should pay attention to her diet; it should be healthy and balanced. Eliminate carbohydrates that are easily absorbed from food - confectionery, mashed potatoes and candies, fatty and fried foods, whole milk, condensed milk, yoghurts, cream, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheeses, goose and duck meat, sausages, sausages and fatty meats, lard, ice cream and chocolate

A pregnant woman should forget about fruit juices, sweet water and sweet fruits. Slowly absorbing carbohydrates do not need to be excluded from the diet - buckwheat, baked potatoes, durum wheat noodles, rice. Bread should be consumed with bran or coarsely ground black, and vegetables and legumes should be consumed as much as possible - soybeans, beans, lentils and peas. Suitable meats include rabbit, chicken and veal.

You can eat foods that have an anti-diabetic effect - garlic, parsley, radishes, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, spinach, rhubarb, oats, barley, barley and soy milk.

The following fruits and berries are considered very useful: quince, lemon, gooseberry, lingonberry, currant, and grapefruit. You can also eat low-fat cottage cheese and yogurt.

It is very difficult for a pregnant woman to create the right diet, because she needs to eat foods that will not increase blood sugar, but at the same time she cannot refuse foods that are healthy and important for the development of the baby

This is why it is so important to purchase a portable glucometer, with which you can check your blood sugar levels at any time of the day.

If a woman eats right, looks after her health and her condition, this indicates that the woman takes care of herself and her child and there is no need to worry in such cases, the child will be strong and healthy. Therefore, the first rule is to watch your diet!

Also, the amount of sugar in the blood can decrease if a woman takes a cool bath or a contrast shower, if she regularly performs light physical activity.

So, it is very important for a pregnant woman to control her blood sugar levels because it can affect the health of the unborn baby. You need to get tested regularly and monitor your diet.

Home » category » Author: Lena Vasnitsova Date of publication: 06/06/2014

What to do if the tests are bad

If your blood glucose levels change in one direction or another, you must constantly see a doctor and regularly test your blood for sugar. It is advisable to do this every day, at home, recording the results in a diary each time. If the glucose level does not return to normal on its own within a few days or a week, then treatment must be started.

First of all, it includes following a diet. Despite the fact that during pregnancy it is very difficult to resist various tasty treats, for the sake of your health and the health of your unborn child, you still have to give them up.

It is imperative to exclude the following foods from your diet:

Normal blood sugar levels in pregnant women

• flour products;
• smoked meats;
• pickles;
• confectionery;
• sweet fruits and berries;
• sausages, frankfurters, small sausages;
• concentrated fruit juices;
• sugar (required!);
• carbonated drinks;
• fast foods;
• fatty and fried foods.

If your blood sugar is high, a pregnant woman should eat exclusively healthy foods.

She needs to pay special attention to cereals, eggs, cottage cheese, cheeses, lean meats and fish, vegetables and unsweetened fruits. Food must be steamed or baked in the oven without using oil.

At the same time, you also need to change the amount of food consumed. You should eat small portions 5-6 times a day.

allows you to prevent the development of many complications!

It should be noted that there are certain foods that are very useful in such cases, as they help lower blood sugar levels. These include:

• soy milk;
• carrot;
• currant;
• cowberry;
• spinach;
• garlic;
• pearl barley;
• radish;
• oats;
• gooseberry;
• tomatoes;
• cabbage.

It is these foods that should make up the bulk of a pregnant woman’s diet. As a rule, in the initial stages of diabetes development, such a diet helps to quickly normalize blood glucose levels. But if this does not happen, then they already resort to the help of insulin drugs. They replenish insulin deficiency in the body, thereby reducing the load on the pancreas (it is responsible for breaking down glucose) and reducing blood sugar levels.

Insulin drugs are most often used as injections. They are placed at certain time intervals. The dosage and number of injections per day are determined individually.

Prerequisites for increased glucose

Symptoms of high blood sugar in women

The doctor caring for the pregnancy may notice some signs that indicate elevated blood sugar levels. These symptoms include:

• increased feeling of hunger;
• frequent urination;
• constant feeling of thirst;
• daily weakness, fatigue;
• high blood pressure.

With such symptoms, the doctor prescribes a blood and urine test to make a correct diagnosis and rule out a condition called “latent diabetes.” If the indicators are slightly elevated, this can be considered normal, because During pregnancy, the pancreas in women is not able to function normally, which is why the level of glucose in the blood increases. To be on the safe side, the doctor may prescribe strict adherence to a diet, or minor restrictions on the consumption of certain foods.

A blood test is one of the most important tests during pregnancy.

Normal indicators during pregnancy

In the blood of pregnant women, the limits of glucose norms become less “scattered” - the lower threshold rises to 3.8 millimol/l, the upper threshold decreases to 5 millimol/l. Sugar levels must be carefully monitored throughout pregnancy. Tests are taken at the first visit to the antenatal clinic. It is advisable to carry out the analysis at 8–12 weeks of pregnancy. If the indicators correspond to the norms for pregnant women, the next study is scheduled for 24–28 weeks. A blood sugar test is taken from a finger or a vein. Venous blood allows you to determine plasma sugar levels. In this case, normal values ​​will be higher than with capillary sampling - from 3.9 to 6.1 millimol/l.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the pancreas produces a large amount of insulin, which the woman's body must cope with. If this does not happen, the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) in pregnant women, so-called gestational diabetes, is very likely. Manifestations of the disease can be hidden, asymptomatic and with normal fasting glucose levels. Therefore, at 28 weeks pregnant women undergo a glucose test (stress test).

A glucose tolerance test (glucose tolerance test, GTT) helps identify or exclude the presence of gestational diabetes. It consists of donating blood first on an empty stomach, then after ingesting glucose (load). For pregnant women, a three-time test is performed. After taking the test on an empty stomach, the woman is given 100 grams of glucose dissolved in boiled water to drink. Repeated tests are taken after one, two and three hours after the first. The following results are considered normal:

• after 1 hour – 10.5 millimol/l or lower;
• after 2 hours – 9.2 and below;
• after 3 hours – 8 and below.

Exceeding these indicators may indicate the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus, which requires further monitoring and treatment by an endocrinologist. All blood glucose levels during pregnancy are shown in the table:

Sugar in pregnant women

The amount of glucose in the blood is measured in moles per liter. For a pregnant woman, the sugar norm is 5.8 mmol/liter if the sample was taken from a vein and from 4.0 to 6.1 mmol/l if the test was taken from a finger. A slight increase in glucose is allowed, as this could occur during hormonal changes in the body, due to stress or overwork. If a repeated analysis of glycated hemoglobin shows a high concentration of hormones, then this gives the doctor grounds to diagnose the pregnant woman with gestational diabetes.

This pathology is caused by the production of a large amount of hormones by the pregnant woman’s body. This leads to blocking the production of insulin, which breaks down sugar. A lack of the hormone leads to an excess of glucose and, as a consequence, to a lack of energy necessary for the growth of the fetus and the functioning of the mother’s body. Sugar does not enter the cells and is not broken down, as a result of which a woman’s body experiences energy starvation during pregnancy.

Blood test for sugar during pregnancy

During the entire period of pregnancy, the expectant mother is prescribed a sugar test twice - when she is registered and at 30 weeks. Basically, the analysis is taken from a finger, but if for some reason it is not possible to take blood, then the correct result can be obtained from venous blood. If a woman feels unwell before the test, it is not recommended to conduct the test on that day. As a rule, the attending physician postpones the test to the next day, and the pregnant woman is advised to rest well. For the result to be of high quality, certain conditions must be met:

• donate blood on an empty stomach in the morning;
• You should not brush your teeth or use chewing gum before going to the clinic, as they contain sugar;
• It is undesirable to change your diet a few days before the study, because this will affect the results;
• You should eat food at least 8 hours before going to the doctor;
• You can drink water, but only drinking water without gas.

The effect of hyperglycemia on the baby

Gestational diabetes does not cause malformations in the fetus, as is typical for type 1 diabetes, since the formation of organs and systems occurs in the first trimester, and the onset of the gestational form of pathology occurs from the 20th to 24th week.

Failure to correct glucose levels can lead to diabetic fetopathy. The disease is manifested by disruption of the pancreas, kidneys and blood vessels in the baby. Such a child is born with a large body weight (up to 6 kg), his skin has a red-burgundy tint, and pinpoint hemorrhages are visible.

Children with macrosomia differ markedly from healthy children

The skin is richly flavored with white grease and swollen. Upon examination, the large size of the abdomen and relatively short limbs are clearly visible. The baby may have difficulty breathing due to insufficient surfactant (the substance responsible for preventing the alveoli in the lungs from sticking together).

Important! In the first hours after birth, low muscle tone, suppression of the sucking reflex, and the absence of some physiological reflexes are noticeable.

Such complications can be prevented by correcting glycemic levels in the mother’s body with diet therapy and medications (usually insulin).

Deviations from the norm and risk group

First of all, it should be noted that there is no need to panic due to deviations, especially minor ones. They can be caused by metabolic characteristics or even such little things as a mild cold, poor sleep, walking, and the like. In each specific case, only a doctor can tell whether there is a problem.

Risk group

Expectant mothers who are at risk for diabetes should approach this issue with particular caution. Signs include the following factors: . hereditary tendency to diabetes; obesity, excess weight before pregnancy; infectious or viral diseases during pregnancy; age over 30-35 years, especially if this is the first conception; hormonal treatment for infertility; stillbirths and previous miscarriages; the birth of children who are too large, children with developmental defects; polyhydramnios.

• hereditary tendency to diabetes;
• obesity, excess weight before pregnancy;
• infectious or viral diseases during pregnancy;
• age over 30-35 years, especially if this is the first conception;
• hormonal treatment for infertility;
• stillbirths and previous miscarriages;
• the birth of children who are too large, children with developmental defects;
• polyhydramnios.

If you are at risk, it is advisable, among other things, to check your glucose level monthly. You can purchase a glucometer to do this yourself at home and be able to detect changes in time.

You should also visit your doctor unscheduled if you notice the following signs:

• increased AT;
• bad breath;
• sour metallic taste;
• changes in appetite, including constant feeling of hunger;
• weight gain;
• increased thirst;
• increased frequency of urination;
• dry mouth;
• general weakness.

If the indicators are not normal

If the result is positive, you need to undergo a repeat test, and if it also indicates elevated sugar levels, a glucose tolerance test is prescribed earlier than usual. In addition, until the middle of the term, it is indicated for those who are at risk.

If the GTT result shows a glucose level from 7.8 to 11.1 mmol/l, then sensitivity to it is increased. A level that exceeds 11.1 mmol/l is the basis for a preliminary diagnosis of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes in expectant mothers is relatively common, and this phenomenon is temporary; it goes away after childbirth. However, there is a risk that it will develop into true diabetes.

A decrease in sugar levels is much less common, and is mainly caused by too long breaks between meals, very small portions of low-calorie foods. To avoid sudden changes, you need to limit the amount of simple carbohydrates you consume (baked goods made from white flour, sweets, soda) and eat such foods with something unsweetened. With a strong decrease in the amount of glucose in the blood, very toxic ketone bodies are formed, therefore, in no case should you neglect proper nutrition; if you cannot eat on time, you should at least have a snack with candy to maintain your sugar level.

A pregnant woman is responsible not only for herself, but also for her baby, therefore it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the body so as not to inherit diabetes mellitus to the child. The main thing that is required from a woman is to take responsibility for her health, listen to doctors and undergo prescribed examinations on time and correctly.

Risk factors

It would seem that in this situation, any woman in an interesting position should suffer from excess glucose in the body. However, not every expectant mother has elevated sugar levels during pregnancy. What increases the risk of developing the disease?

• obesity;

• heredity (diabetes mellitus in close relatives);

• development of a similar situation in a previous pregnancy;

• polycystic ovary syndrome;

• age over 25 years.

What is gestational diabetes and why is it dangerous?

Normally, all pregnant women have a blood glucose level of 4-6.7 mmol/l. Exceeding these indicators indicates the development of gestational diabetes. In principle, it does not pose a serious threat to the life and health of the mother herself or her child. But! The more sugar in the blood, the higher the risks of having a large baby and the occurrence of various complications during childbirth.

Important! Against the background of gestational diabetes, iron deficiency anemia can develop, in which the fetus begins to experience oxygen deficiency. This, in turn, negatively affects the functioning of its internal organs, provoking the development of various pathologies.

In addition, the risks of developing chronic type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus with this condition are also high. Moreover, this disease can appear in both the woman herself and her unborn child.

The mechanism of development of gestational diabetes

If gestational diabetes appears in the second trimester of pregnancy, this threatens the woman and her child with rapid weight gain. Excess weight can cause the baby to develop hyperinsulinemia after birth, in which he will not be able to receive the amount of glucose he needs from his mother through milk. The result of this is deviations in physical development, which negatively affects his health.

And these are not all the conditions that gestational diabetes can lead to. Its development often leads to:

• uneven distribution of body size - children have thin arms, wide bellies, thin legs;
• impaired functioning of the respiratory tract;
• to severe swelling of soft tissues;
• yellowness of the skin;
• hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
• increased blood clotting;
• deficiency of calcium and magnesium in the body, which negatively affects the condition of bones and the cardiovascular system.

Considering the high risks of developing all these pathologies, every woman should undergo regular sugar tests. And if any abnormalities are detected, begin treatment immediately.

Treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus

Most expectant mothers are scared when they discover elevated sugar levels during pregnancy. What to do if such a nuisance happens? First of all, a woman should seek advice from a specialist. The endocrinologist will assess the condition of the expectant mother and, depending on the severity of the disease, prescribe the necessary treatment.

In most cases, the management of pregnant women with diabetes comes down to changing their diet. Normalizing insulin levels in the blood allows you to do without heavy artillery in the form of hormonal drugs. A diet for high sugar during pregnancy includes the following principles:

• The daily diet is divided between proteins, fats and carbohydrates in a ratio of 20-25%, 35-40% and 35%, respectively.

• During the entire period of pregnancy, there is a gradual decrease in calorie content of food to 25-30 kcal per 1 kg of weight.

• Any easily digestible carbohydrates (primarily sweets) are excluded from daily consumption.

In cases where diet alone fails to normalize sugar levels, the pregnant woman is prescribed insulin therapy. The dose is selected by an endocrinologist. He also monitors the expectant mother throughout the entire gestation period and, if necessary, changes the dose of the prescribed drug.

Normalization methods

The detection of even minor deviations should be a reason to equalize the concentration of this important component in the blood. . Treatment of gestational diabetes involves a comprehensive approach to eliminating the problem

This is a diet, dosed physical activity, and the use of folk remedies.

Treatment of gestational diabetes involves a comprehensive approach to eliminating the problem. This is a diet, dosed physical activity, and the use of folk remedies.

Drug therapy

Appointed in exceptional cases. An effective method of such treatment is the use of insulin under the strict supervision of a physician. Accurate adherence to recommendations for dosage and time of drug administration is required.

The drug is highly effective. It is safe for mother and fetus.

Diet

It is impossible to lower sugar without adjusting your diet. Should be excluded from the diet:

• fatty, fried and spicy foods;
• smoked meats, marinades, sausages;
• confectionery;
• alcohol, smoking, carbonated drinks.

The list of useful products is extensive. With skillful preparation, you can create a complete menu. Should be eaten:

• buckwheat, oat and millet cereals;
• vegetables, fruits, berries;
• low-fat dairy products;
• poultry meat, eggs.

Meals should be frequent and small.

Reduced values ​​() are also a dangerous condition and need to be corrected. You can increase your sugar level in an emergency with a slice of chocolate . This will prevent the possibility of loss of consciousness. But then you should eat well and be sure to notify your doctor.

Folk remedies

From the arsenal of traditional medicine, teas, infusions, and decoctions from the following medicinal raw materials are widely used to lower glucose:

• raspberries;
• dandelion leaves;
• parsley roots and stems;
• birch buds;
• plantain.

Pharmacy tea bags are quite effective - “Sugar-norm”, “Arfazetin”, Gluconorm and others.

Before using herbal remedies, you should always consult your doctor.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a dosed approach to rest and physical activity, proper nutrition are the main recommendations for maintaining the body in proper order.