Gdm Case Studies

Diet is a very important therapy for managing diabetes, and health care professionals should consider the patient’s pre-pregnancy weight, general health, dietary habits, activity level and insulin treatment (Gilbert, 2011). The first line of management for women with GDM is nutrition therapy (Hernandez, 2016). This can also be the most difficult therapy to manage, as culture and emotions are often important factors in a person’s eating routine (Hernandez, 2016). The goal for GDM patients is to maintain good glycemic control and achieve a reasonable body weight and serum lipid levels, while also maintaining adequate calories and nutrients for the increased metabolic needs of pregnancy (Gilbert, 2011). Women with GDM are sensitive to carbohydrates, especially at breakfast, and should be informed to limit sugary and concentrated sweets (Gilbert, 2011). Eating a small breakfast with
A regular exercise program can increase the uptake of glucose into cells, decrease obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia and help decrease insulin requirements (Gilbert, 2011). An exercise program should be contraindicated if there are diabetic complications that include uncontrolled hypertension, advanced retinopathy, sever autonomic or peripheral neuropathy or there are ketones present in urine (Gilbert, 2011). Gilbert (2011) states that exercise should not cause maternal or fetal stress or uterine contractions. The patient should be encouraged to palpate the uterus to check for contractions during exercises and to stop if any are noticed (Gilbert, 2011). If hypertension, ketouria or vascular disease is present, then activity should be limited to decrease metabolic needs (Gilbert, 2011). The patient should be encouraged to keep glucose tablets or a snack available to treat low blood sugar (Gilbert, 2011). Post exercise hypoglycemia can be prevented by exercising after a meal or carbohydrate snack (Gilbert,