What does gestational diabetes mean?

Gestational diabetes (diabetes gravidarum) is a temporary type of diabetes that goes away immediately after the delivery. Women can get it from the 24th week of pregnancy. 
During a normal pregnancy, the body produces extra insulin, so that there’s enough insulin to keep the blood sugar low enough. But in this case that doesn’t happen, or not sufficiently. As a result, too much sugar remains in the blood. 
About one in twenty pregnant women experience gestational diabetes. It can happen to any pregnant woman, but some women are more likely to have gestational diabetes than others. 
The risk is higher when: 
* You’ve already had gestational diabetes before;
* A baby of more than 4000 grams has already been born; 
* The body weight is too high, even before pregnancy; 
* There’s a positive family burden type 2 diabetes; 
* You have a Hindu, Moroccan or Turkish descent; 
* You have a pre-existing high cholesterol or blood sugar. 
Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes are often very large at birth, making delivery more difficult or even more dangerous. The baby can also be injured himself. The children have a higher risk of getting diabetes type 2. If there has been gestational diabetes before, there’s even a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes. That’s why it’s good to keep an eye on your health.

The role of the dietitian
In order to lower and normalize the blood glucose levels quickly, it’s important to adjust the eating and drinking pattern. The dietitian will give some information about carbohydrates in your food and drinks, the types of carbohydrates and how they affect the blood glucose level. In addition, a personal diet is drawn up, with attention to a good carbohydrate distribution and a full nutritional intake, because we don’t want any nutrient deficiencies. 
Which drinks contain carbohydrates?
Not only food contains carbohydrates. Beverages can also contain a lot of sugars. Think of: energy drinks such as Red bull and AA drink, fruit juices, soft drinks, dairy drinks, lemonades and the white table sugar that is added to the coffee and tea. These liquid sugars make the blood glucose level in the blood rise; this happens quickly and is of short duration. They also provide a lot of calories and can reduce your appetite. 

Which drinks contain carbohydrates?
Not only food contains carbohydrates. Beverages can also contain a lot of sugars. Think of: energy drinks such as Red bull and AA drink, fruit juices, soft drinks, dairy drinks, lemonades and the white table sugar that is added to the coffee and tea. These liquid sugars make the blood glucose level in the blood rise; this happens quickly and is of short duration. They also provide a lot of calories and can reduce your appetite. 

With what can we help you?
In addition to creating your personal nutritional advice, we guide you in familiarizing yourself with the 'new' eating pattern. Of course it’s a bit of a shock when you hear that your blood sugars aren’t good and that it may have consequences for your pregnancy, the delivery and the baby itself. Your eating and drinking pattern should be adjusted and preferably as soon as possible. Coaching and periodic evaluation interviews with one of us can support you in this. 
We can also give you practical tips such as how to deal with food on special occasions such as parties, dining out and birthdays.
We can also offer you postpartum guidance to maintain a healthy eating and drinking pattern so that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is reduced.