Preventing Gestational Diabetes:

Your Weight Matters

There are things you can do for preventing gestational diabetes. You should know, however, that there are some things that also may be out of your control, such as family history, your age, and if you have had gestational diabetes before. All of these things may play into whether or not you have gestational diabetes.

The good news is that you can do some things to help prevent it, also! One of the most important ways to prevent gestational diabetes is to be at a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your chance of having gestational diabetes.

The reason for this increased risk that when you are pregnant, your hormone levels change. It is harder for your body to make enough insulin if you are overweight, especially with this hormonal change and weight change that goes along with pregnancy.

If you are currently trying to get pregnant and you are overweight, you should definitely try to lose some of that extra weight. Not only is this good for preventing gestational diabetes, but it can also increase your chance of getting pregnant!

There are two things you should pay attention to: what you eat and how much you exercise. Don’t get overwhelmed, because small changes can make a big difference in your weight.

Here are a few suggestions for losing a few extra pounds if you are trying to conceive:

1. Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast! This is an important meal because it gets your metabolism going.

2. Drink only calorie-free beverages, preferably water!

3. Limit those condiments and sauces, such as butter and mayonnaise, that add up quickly.

4. Limit sweet foods. It’s easy to eat a bite of a cookie here, and a piece of candy there. Sweets are usually calorie-dense and void of nutritional benefits.

5. Eat out less. If you are eating many of your meals in restaurants, you are probably eating more calories than you realize. If you do eat out, limit portions and choose carefully.

6. Move around more. If you already exercise, add a few extra minutes to your routine. If you do not exercise, start slowly and gradually add more. Even walking two times a day for 15 minutes each time is a great place to start.

7. Get adequate sleep. Believe it or not, sleep may affect your weight! You are more likely to try to grab unhealthy foods to give you a quick boost of energy, which will only pack the pounds on.

Often, it is easy to just say that you are “eating for two,” and stop keeping track of what you are eating and how much! Though you do need a few extra calories each day during pregnancy, it is important to focus on eating healthy foods.

Though you cannot change your genes or family history, being at a healthy weight while trying to conceive or practicing good nutrition during pregnancy is something you can do for preventing gestational diabetes.