Posts Tagged diabetes
Best Treatment For Infertility – Natural Treatment as the Starting Point
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 20th, 2010
Around 15% of couples in the Western world will experience difficulty conceiving. Of course, most will look towards what is the best treatment for infertility. Over the last few years huge industries have grown, with millions of dollars being spent developing and perfecting reproductive technology. What some consider shocking though, is what scant regard has been given to simple self help measures which couples can do for free, with emphasis placed on revenue-producing procedures which are often costly, length and invasive and actually result in viable pregnancies about a quarter of the time.
We are all well aware of the impact diet and lifestyle has on our bodies. An unhealthy diet and lifestyle can result in poor cardiac health, certain types of cancers, depleted bone strength, poor vision and joint problems. It therefore makes perfect sense that diet and lifestyle will have an impact on fertility, as conception and pregnancy are simply just two of many systems within the body, all of them subject to the same influences.
Before even contemplating consulting fertility clinics, the best treatment for infertility is to make sure you and your partner are in the best possible health to enable you to conceive. Taking a close look at your diet and lifestyle will help get you on the right road.
Firstly, a woman who maintains a healthy BMI is much more likely to maintain a regular pattern of ovulation, with excess weight contributing to PCOS and causing general hormonal imbalances. Therefore, a good starting point is to take a critical look at your weight. Now if you are considerably overweight and the road ahead looks like a mountain, then don’t despair too much. A recent study has shown that just by losing 5-10% of your body weight can be enough to jump start ovulation or to get it back to a more regular cycle. In addition, losing this amount of weight can also cut your risk of developing diabetes.
Exercise is very important. The best treatment for infertility is to take moderate amounts of exercise. Too much, and you run the risk of “turning off” ovulation. Too little, and your body will not be as healthy as it should be and the link between fertility and a healthy body cannot be overlooked.
What you put into your body is crucial. Avoiding known harmful elements such as smoking and illegal drugs is essential. You should also take a critical look at any prescription drugs you might be taking. Also, watch your caffeine intake-although a couple of cups of coffee and tea are thought to be fine, some experts believe that more than this can be potentially harmful. Whilst on the subject of what you drink, keeping well-hydrated is vital for maintaining healthy bodily functions, including conception and pregnancy. Therefore you should ensure that you drink 2 liters of fluid each day.
Of course, what you eat is important and is arguable the best fertility treatment around. Following the principles of a healthy diet is crucial. You should-
* Avoid trans fats
* Eat “healthy” oils, such as olive oil
* Eat plenty of lean protein-particularly that from vegetable sources
* Avoid products made with white flour-choose wholegrains instead
* Drink a glass of whole milk each day
* Take a good all-round dietary supplement – some are specially designed for pregnancy
* Take Folic Acid as soon as you start to try for a baby
* Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
Another good natural treatment is to avoid stress. Hormones secreted during stressful times can adversely affect fertility, so if you have sources of stress which you cannot avoid, then try simple relaxation techniques, such as listening to gentle music in a darkened room or even buying a specially designed relaxation CD.
There is a holistic system which has been clinically researched over 14 years and which guarantees to help couples become pregnant quickly. Containing secret natural infertility cures, powerful techniques and the step-by-step holistic infertility cure system which is all you will ever need to permanently eliminate infertility within weeks, most women will become pregnant within 3-4 months.
This “no stone unturned” system does not use drugs or surgery and has no side effects. In terms of a natural cure, I believe it is the best treatment for infertility-but take a look and decide for yourself.
To see further details, please visit Get Pregnant Quickly.
Article Source: Best Treatment For Infertility – Natural Treatment as the Starting Point
Your Pregnancy Size By Week! How Much Weight Should You Gain During Pregnancy?
Posted by in Pregnancy on November 5th, 2009
Not every pregnant woman is going to gain the same amount of weight, nor will they gain at the same rate. Obviously every woman – and pregnancy – is unique! However, it’s important to follow a few guidelines to help keep you on track and aware.
Maintaining a healthy weight will not only be beneficial to you, but also to your baby. It will also help to avoid certain illnesses related to pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes.
How Much Weight Should Be Gained During Pregnancy?
An average-weight woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds throughout the entire pregnancy. Overweight Women should aim to gain a little less – about 15 pounds, and underweight women should aim for a little more – about 35-45 pounds.
Pregnant women expecting multiples will probably gain more weight than those carrying only one baby.
How Should the Weight Be Gained?
The term “eating for two” is misleading, and unhealthy. Despite the fact that there is another human growing inside of you, you do not require twice the amount of food you once did prior to being pregnant. Following this method will only put much more weight on than necessary. In general, an extra 300 calories per day is recommended. Make these calories count by focusing on healthier food choices.
Where Does the Weight Go?
The pounds gained throughout the entire pregnancy are distributed as follows:
Baby – 7-8 pounds
Placenta – 2-3 pounds
Amniotic Fluid – 2-3 pounds
Breast Tissue – 2-3 pounds
Blood Supply – 2-3 pounds
Uterus – 4 pounds
Fat – 2-5 pounds
Total – 25-35 pounds
Some women may not actually gain any weight during the first trimester, especially if they are nauseous. Others may gain quite a bit at first. Trimester 2 and 3 will (or should!) have a more even weight gain rate.
Weekly Weight Gain Rate
Follow this guide to see how much weight gained per week is ideal. Remember that this is only an average! The numbers stated below are a range:
2 weeks – 1-4 pounds
4 weeks – 3-6 pounds
6 weeks – 3-7 pounds
8 weeks – 4-9 pounds
10 weeks – 4-11 pounds
12 weeks – 5-12 pounds
14 weeks – 5-14 pounds
16 weeks – 6-15 pounds
18 weeks – 7-16 pounds
20 weeks – 7-18 pounds
22 weeks – 8-19 pounds
24 weeks – 9-20 pounds
26 weeks – 10-21 pounds
28 weeks – 11-22 pounds
30 weeks – 13-24 pounds
32 weeks – 15-26 pounds
34 weeks – 17-28 pounds
36 weeks – 19-30 pounds
38 weeks – 21-32 pounds
40 weeks – 23-35 pounds
You’ll probably gain about 3 or 4 pounds per month, with a little weight gained near the end. Don’t be alarmed if no weight is gained in the last couple of weeks – this is common.
- Lisa Simonelli Rennie, author of complete-pregnancy-guide.com. This website has all the info you need on conception, pregnancy, childbirth and labor, including a week by week guide.
Visit: http://www.complete-pregnancy-guide.com
Article Source: Your Pregnancy Size By Week! How Much Weight Should You Gain During Pregnancy?
Reasons for Bed Rest when Pregnant
Posted by in Pregnancy on October 17th, 2009
Bed rest is something that doctors recommend to 20 percent of all pregnant women. It usually occurs because the doctor is concerned that the pregnancy is high risk. Since bed rest and pregnancy happen to 1 in 5 women, it’s good to know what to expect. Some women will expect it before they become pregnant, due to genetic reasons. Bed rest when pregnant is often a surprise, but it isn’t necessarily cause for alarm.
Since bed rest can be recommended for so many different scenarios, it can range from a few hours a day at home to full-time rest in a hospital, with close monitoring. If bed rest and pregnancy is something you may be facing, keep in mind that it may be as simple as simply avoiding certain chores at home and taking a daily nap or it could mean full-time confinement to bed. You may be instructed to do it for just a few weeks, while others may do it for the bulk of the pregnancy.
Bed rest when pregnant might be advised in the face of all sorts of medical conditions. If you have a history of pregnancy problem, there is a somewhat greater chance that you will have to do at least some level of bed rest. Other conditions include high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding, poor fetal development, or cervical changes. In addition, bed rest and pregnancy are frequently considered if you are expecting a multiple birth. Premature labor, gestational diabetes and placenta complications can also lead a doctor to recommend bed rest.
Bed rest when pregnant can be prescribed for a number of reasons. Its ultimate goal is to give the body the body a chance to normalize after it has been stressed by any number of medical conditions. If high blood pressure is the problem, it is important to alleviate stress as much as possible. Other conditions, like vaginal bleeding can be exacerbated by any number of even mildly physical activities. Giving the body a chance to rest and recover can also delay or stop premature labor. If there is insufficient blood flow to the placenta, bed rest can also help get that circulation back to normal.
If you think bed rest and pregnancy might be something you are facing, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for details. Don’t be afraid to ask for specifics on your condition, and be sure to discuss in detail what sorts of activities and for what duration would be permitted. Bed rest when pregnant is common enough that doctors usually have a pretty good idea of what works, and can advise you on how to best cope with the situation.
Even though it sounds frustrating and maybe even frightening, keep in mind that most high-risk pregnancies do turn out to be successful, and you can greatly increase those odds by following your doctor’s instructions closely. You may also find that being forced to rest for a period of time is the best thing for you and your baby.
You can find helpful information about Bed rest when pregnant and everything you need to know about Bed rest and pregnancy at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Reasons for Bed Rest when Pregnant
Lessen Your Risks To Having A Miscarriage
Posted by in Pregnancy on October 7th, 2009
Most soon-to-be moms get very curious and fear about their chances of miscarriage. A miscarriage is self-termination of the pregnancy within the first 20 weeks of the pregnancy. Having one can be very devastating for every woman. It can make her feel alone, depressed and isolated. Given this, it is very important to keep in mind that a miscarriage is common phenomenon with a big number of women experiencing at least one miscarriage in their lifetime. In this article, we will share with you some helpful information about miscarriage – symptoms of miscarriage, causes, etc.. Keep these tips in mind as you go through your pregnancy.
How common does miscarriage occur? During the first trimester of the pregnancy, a woman’s chances of miscarriage range between 10-20%. This risk decreases as the pregnancy progresses. It is believed that about 50% of pregnancies miscarry prior to implantation in the womb. After the 8th week, the risks dramatically goes down.
What causes miscarriage to occur? Many factors can trigger a miscarriage. This includes:
l Having fever during the early weeks of pregnancy
l Having a soft tissue disease called scleroderma
l Having multiple pregnancy
l Age – As you grow older, your chances of miscarriage increases as well. Women less than 35 have a 6.4% clinical mis rate while those beyond 35 have 14.7% chance of having a miscarriage.
l An uncontrolled diabetes
l Smoking cigarettes can increase your chances to of miscarriage to 30-50%
l Regular exposure to radiation or solvents during the pregnancy may also increase your chances.
What are the symptoms of miscarriage? One of the most common symptoms of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding and spotting. Oftentimes, the color of the first discharge is reddish brown then it turns to bright red later on.
So what are the odds of getting pregnant after miscarriage? The answer will have to depend on how often you try. Others want to give it some time until they have finally recovered from their loss. Some, on the other hand, want to try as soon as they can. There is really no “perfect” time. Everything will have to depend on you and your partner’s readiness to start the wait again. Some doctors say that it is best if you wait until you have your first period after the miscarriage since the chances of miscarriage in the next pregnancy is about 1.5% higher if one cycle intervenes with the other. On a lighter note, most women have healthier pregnancies after their first miscarriage. In case, you do not want to get pregnant yet, see your doctor and ask him to prescribe you contraception which will be best for your needs.
Having a miscarriage may be normal but it can be very devastating to couples. To keep this from happening to you, be sure to keep yourself healthy throughout your pregnancy. Eat fruits and vegetables. More than just that, take time to see your doctor regularly. This is the only way to find out if you are at high risks of having a miscarriage. Keeping yourself well-rested and getting enough sleep will be a huge help as well.
You can find helpful information about the odds of getting pregnant after marriage and everything you need to know about the symptoms of miscarriage at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Lessen Your Risks To Having A Miscarriage
How To Reduce The Risks Of A Child Birth Defect
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 21st, 2009
To date, even doctors cannot tell us how how and why exactly a child birth defect occurs. Given this, many couple planning pregnancy cannot help but worry. – What can we do to help lessen the risks of having to deal with child birth defect? How do we make sure that our baby comes out healthy? The percentage of child birth defect risk is only 4% vis-a-vis the 96% of healthy newborns. Nevertheless, expecting parents still want to get as much birth defects information as they can in order to help lessen the risks of having a baby with a defect. Before you plan to get pregnant, observing a few steps will help you reduce the risks not only of a difficult pregnancy but also of giving birth to a baby with birth defect.
The first trimester of pregnancy is very crucial. It plays a very important role in the development of a child. Given this, good health for the mother is very essential in order to ensure a healthy and safe pregnancy. The sad part is that, most women do not realize that they are pregnant until a few weeks after the conception. One important step to take to help you prepare for your pregnancy is by taking a pre-pregnancy examination. This process is also called preconception care and is performed by your doctor before you even get pregnant. During your preconception check-up, your physician will assess your overall health and identify risk factors which can complicate your pregnancy. This allows women to prepare in advance in order to make them at their healthiest condition by the time that they get pregnant. Below are some of the benefits which pregnant women can get from a preconception examination:
Assessment of the family medical history -The doctor can assess your paternal and maternal medical history. This will help determine if you have any family member who have medical conditions like mental retardation, blood pressure and diabetes.
Genetic testing – All possible genetic discorders which can be inherited by the baby may be assessed during the preconception examination. Some of the common genetic birth defects include sickle cell anemia which is a serious blood disorder and the Tay-Sachs disease which is a breakdown disorder which comes with physical and progressive mental retardation. These genetic disorders can be detected through blood exams before the pregnancy.
Personal medical history – Your personal medical history will help determine health conditions which can require special care during your pregnancy. Some of these deficiencies include anemia, high blood pressure, epilepsy and allergies. Your previous surgeries will also be taken into consideration. Your past pregnancies will also be studied especially complications (if any), the number and the length of pregnancy and the number of pregnancy losses.
Vaccination – Your current vaccinations will be assessed to ensure immunity to German measles or rubella. As we all know contracting such disease during pregnancy can be very risky for the baby and can even cause birth defects and miscarriage.
Yes, nobody can tell if your baby will have a child birth defect but every parent can help reduce the risks to having to deal with one by taking the necessary precautions such as by taking the preconception examination.
Get helpful tips about birth defects information and a useful information on child birth defect at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: How To Reduce The Risks Of A Child Birth Defect
Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 19th, 2009
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that affects pregnant women only. In these specific women, their blood glucose levels are higher than they should normally be. There are a number of reasons why some women develop this disease. Therefore gestational diabetes in pregnancy has to be a concern, if you fall into some of the ranges of risk. Care for gestational diabetes, conversations between you and your physician will be necessary if you fall in line with one or more of the risks. Obesity is a risk factor in a number of conditions, but especially gestational diabetes.
Race is connected to gestational diabetes in pregnancy. Women, who are of a certain race, and are obese fall under more risk. At the top of the list of races, susceptible to this form of diabetes, are African Americans. Other races who are at risk are Native Americans, as well as, Hispanics. There are other risk factors that relate to gestational diabetes in pregnancy. These are important bits of information, all used in determining this disease.
Family history is an important consideration related to gestational diabetes in pregnancy. If there are people in your family, who now have diabetes, they will be factored into this determination process. Pregnant women, who have experienced still born births in the past, also see a connection. Gestational diabetes in pregnancy can result.
Risks do not only have to do with gestational diabetes in pregnancy. They follow the mother and child well after delivery. In most cases, pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes, continue to be susceptible even after pregnancy. These women have been known to go on to develop Type 2 diabetes mellitus. This disease is generally referred to as Type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by high levels of blood glucose, just like gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes is related to an insulin resistance in the person. Type 2 diabetes is initially combated through dietary changes, and exercise. Often though, it has to be handled with medications, as the disease progresses.
The risks to a baby born to a mother with gestational diabetes can be serious. Most of these risks will occur later in this baby’s childhood, or later in life. First of all, these babies tend to be much larger than they should be for their gestational age. This largeness often produces complications when it’s time to deliver the baby.
Some of these babies will go on to experience low blood sugar, themselves. They may even appear jaundice. When the children, born to mothers with gestational diabetes, grow up, they usually have to battle obesity. Many children born to these mothers will have problems with weight throughout their entire lives.
Many of these children will go on to develop Type 2 diabetes themselves. This typically occurs later on in life, though. Just because these risks exist, it doesn’t mean that preventive measures cannot be put in place. With proper management of both exercise and diet, these children do not have to develop diabetes, at all.
You can find helpful information about care for gestational diabetes and everything you need to know about gestational diabetes in pregnancy at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy
Is There A Cure For Diabetes During Pregnancy?
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 19th, 2009
Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes, often want to hear that there is a cure for this disease. Since there is no known cause of gestational diabetes, there is really no cure. Instead of, looking for a cure for diabetes when pregnant, women should focus on proper medical treatment. This is a condition that can be managed, but should never be ignored.
Doctors will do a screening process on pregnant women. One of the tests performed in the screening is the glucose tolerance test. This test and others are designed to detect what the levels of glucose are in a pregnant woman’s blood. Therefore, blood samples will be drawn before administering the glucose tolerance test and others. Proper medical treatment for these women, can be considered a cure for diabetes when pregnant.
It is important, however, to understand just what gestational diabetes is. This is described as a condition that pregnant women develop. It is a form of diabetes diagnosed in women, who many times have never been diagnosed with diabetes. Gestational diabetes, however, is centralized to the pregnancy process. These women exhibit high blood glucose levels. Gestational diabetes is detected in 3 – 10% of all pregnancies.
Not only is there not a well-defined cause for this disease, many women do not experience symptoms. In these cases, diagnosis is extremely paramount. This is where the screening process plays its most important role, and where the glucose tolerance test comes in. The glucose tolerance test, or the oral glucose tolerance test, is one of several typically performed on pregnant women who are at risk for diabetes.
The prime time to perform a glucose tolerance test is in the morning. Generally this would be after the pregnant woman has fasted. It is optimum to have her fast between eight and fourteen hours, before performing this test. The test itself involves drinking a solution, which contains a certain amount of glucose. This drink is often described as a thick, sweet, cola like concoction.
After this liquid is drunk, blood will be drawn from the woman. This will be done in order to measure glucose levels. These measurements will be done at the start, and at specific intervals after the drink has been consumed. The fasting number, of a pregnant woman’s glucose should be less than 95mg. An hour after drinking the solution, her number should be less than 180mg. And two hours afterwards it should be less than 155mg. A final reading will be done after three hours have passed. This reading should be less than 140mg.
When the screening process goes smoothly, a diagnosis is easy to determine. However, this is not the case for all women who drink the solution. Somewhere between 10 -15% of women, who drink this liquid, vomit. This delays, if not postpones the test. When a test isn’t performed, a woman cannot be diagnosed properly.
Many doctors have now begun to use jelly beans to test the glucose instead of the liquid. The jelly beans have become a good alternative.
You can find helpful information about glucose tolerance test and everything you need to know about cure for diabetes when pregnant at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Is There A Cure For Diabetes During Pregnancy?
Practical Remedies
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 19th, 2009
Once your doctor has determined that you mean one or more risk factors for gestational diabetes, testing is in order. In fact, glucose screening when pregnant is a common way to test for gestational diabetes. Glucose screening when pregnant involves a series of tests. These tests will measure the levels of glucose in your blood. So each individual test will require that blood be drawn.
Glucose screening when pregnant is the primary way gestational diabetes is diagnosed. Since there is no known cause for this disease, glucose screening when pregnant, is very important. Not only is there no known cause for this disease, few women experience symptoms from it. Many of the symptoms, women do experience are so closely related to the process of pregnancy, they get overlooked. An example of such symptoms is nausea and vomiting.
The first test in glucose screening when pregnant is the fasting glucose test. Depending on the results of this test, no further test may need to be performed. The next test is called the 2-hour postprandial glucose test. This one is performed on a full stomach, rather than an empty one like the fasting test. The other test is called the random glucose test.
If glucose screening when pregnant results in a gestational diabetes diagnosis, treatment is the next step. Most doctors begin treating this form of diabetes through a change in diet, and regular exercise. Once these are incorporated into a pregnant woman’s schedule, she should see some change in her glucose levels. It depends on the way this disease progresses, how your physician will proceed.
In some pregnant women, dietary changes, and exercise are not enough. They will most often be prescribed an anti-diabetic medication, such as, insulin. If this is the case, your health care provider, will make certain you understand how to take this medication. They will also make sure you understand when to take insulin, and how much.
Home remedies for pregnant women are popularly searched for, as it relates to gestational diabetes. Many women begin to look for non-medicated ways to treat their diabetes. Home remedies for pregnant women are typically safe. But it may be wise to consult your doctor, before adopting any treatment processes. This is especially important if you plan to take any type of supplement.
One home remedy to deal with gestational diabetes is alpha lipoic acid. Taking this is a way to control your sugar levels. Alpha lipoic acid is considered to be an antioxidant. Another supplement, one could use is chromium picolinate. Taking 400mcg of this is said to keep your glucose levels low. Some even opt to take garlic pills. Garlic is thought to be a sugar regulator.
There is another unique remedy used for this form of diabetes. It’s essentially a tea, composed of some rather strange ingredients. This tea is made from kidney beans, white beans, navy beans, lima beans, and northern beans. This concoction is thought to affect one’s pancreas, by removing toxins. This is an avenue of making the overall body healthier.
You can find helpful information about home remedies for pregnant women and everything you need to know about glucose screening when pregnant at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Practical Remedies
Pregnancy Tips For Diabetes
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 19th, 2009
It is possible to handle diabetes during pregnancy. Just like any other types of physical activity, pregnant women should exercise carefully. If you have any questions about specific activities, feel free to consult your physician. Exercise affects not only the mother, but her unborn child, too.
Although being diagnosed with the pregnancy form of this disease, gestational diabetes, can be a shock. You can handle diabetes during pregnancy, because it is treatable. Women everyday learn how to manage gestational diabetes. With the help of your physician, and a little research, you should be prepared to handle diabetes during pregnancy.
Doctors most often treat gestational diabetes through the use of diet and exercise. Both of these can help an expectant mother manage gestational diabetes. Women are typically instructed to make good dietary choices. Choosing the right kinds of foods can go a long way in benefitting your individual case of diabetes. Pregnant women can handle diabetes during pregnancy, by monitoring their weight gain, as well.
Exercise is a good way to manage gestational diabetes. Regular, moderate exercise tends to keep blood glucose levels within a safe range. This can only be positive for those suffering from diabetes.
In some cases, it is necessary to manage gestational diabetes through medication. Doctors sometimes discover that a woman needs an anti-diabetic medicine. The most popular of these is insulin. If it is necessary, for you to take insulin, your doctor will make sure you understand how. There will be specific amounts of this medicine you’ll need to take. The amount will be based upon your blood glucose levels.
You will also be instructed on how to take these readings yourself. Millions of diabetics around the world use automatic meters to measure their blood glucose. Once you understand the process, it will be quite easy to do.
Some pregnant women decide to use preventive measures to work while they deal with gestational diabetes. It is no secret that a percentage of women with this form of diabetes, go on to develop Type 2 diabetes. This does not have to be the case though. For this reason, many get really serious, practicing ways to prevent further experience with diabetes.
One way to work towards preventing diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight. Although it is expected of pregnant women, to gain weight, this doesn’t have to be extreme. Practicing a regular exercise program can assist in this area. It is also a good idea to monitor the types of foods you eat, and how often. This will be especially important if you’re prescribed with insulin.
Women have also put to work some home remedies to deal with gestational diabetes. Taking supplements, like chromium picolinate or garlic, have been said to work. Chromium helps to keep the blood sugar levels low. And garlic is a good sugar regulator. Using either of these could significantly affect your diabetes. You should consult your physician before practicing any sort of home remedy treatment for gestational diabetes. This is a safe way to be sure of your remedies.
You can find helpful information about manage gestational diabetes and everything you need to know about handle diabetes during pregnancy at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Pregnancy Tips For Diabetes
The Jelly Bean Study
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 19th, 2009
One of the most important components of diagnosing gestational diabetes, is the screening process. One test that has become popular, in the screening process, involve the use of jelly beans for gestational diabetes. Since many women to not see specific symptoms of this disease, diagnosis can be difficult. And since there is no certain cause of gestational diabetes, it is hard to connect the dots between symptoms and this condition.
Yes, caring for gestational diabetes when pregnant, is important, which is why testing is done. There are a number of tests that are a part of the screening. These are used essentially, to determine whether there are inappropriately high levels of glucose in a pregnant woman’s blood samples. These tests fall under the line of the non-challenge type of glucose tests.
The tests include a fasting glucose test, a 2-hour postprandial glucose test, and a random glucose test. The postprandial test focuses on the state of the pregnant woman’s blood after she has eaten. Then there is often a screen glucose challenge test performed. In the past there have been problems with this testing. Some pregnant women became nauseated or vomited, during one component of the screening.
This was generally the portion where they were expected to drink a thick, sweet cola like drink. Many of these women had problems keeping this drink down, which effected the testing process. Prompted by these troubles in determining gestational diabetes, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology stepped in.
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology did a study on women who consumed this old cola like drink. They also looked at them in comparison to women who consumed jelly beans for getational diabetes testing. This study was very specific in its criteria. In the study there were specific types of jelly beans for gestational diabetes are used. They used jelly beans for gestational diabetes studies, made by the Brach & Brock company. They also used a certain number of jelly beans for gestational diabetes results.
In the traditional test, 50mg of oral glucose is used. This is administered in the sweet cola liquid. They found that anywhere from 10 to 15% of pregnant women vomited after drinking this liquid. So, the jelly bean alternative entered the picture. In the study women were given 18 jelly beans to eat. Use of this particular brand of candy, it equals the amount of glucose, needed in the screening process.
The traditional test required a certain period of time, before results could be checked. These pregnant women would be given tests, requiring a specific time interval for results. But women who were given the jelly bean test, results could be checked within 2 minutes of eating them. A venous plasma glucose value reading could be determined. This test unlike the ones of the past didn’t have to wait because of time restraints. The results of these tests allow you to focus on caring for gestational diabetes when pregnant, after receiving a diagnosis.
The jelly beans for gestational diabetes test did require a focus on whether a woman had eaten, or even when her last meal was. The study found that this test was a success and could be used instead of the cola drink.
You can find helpful information about caring for gestational diabetes when pregnant and everything you need to know about jelly beans for gestational diabetes at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: The Jelly Bean Study
