Gestational diabetes
Worried about gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that may develop in pregnancy. The amount of sugar in the blood goes up because the body can't break it down fast enough.
Gestational diabetes can have consequences for your health and for the wellbeing of your baby. At this stressful time, The London Diabetes Centre can offer cutting-edge treatment, education about lifestyle changes and the support you need to stay healthy and protect your unborn child.
London Diabetes Centre Gestational Diabetes Service
Appointments are available daily with a Dietitian (60 minutes). This service costs £150 and includes follow up emails after your consultation.
Controlling gestational diabetes
It’s important to take gestational diabetes seriously. High blood sugar levels can affect your health and have an impact on your baby’s development. Uncontrolled diabetes is linked with complicated birth, higher levels of Caesarean deliveries, big babies and increased rates of perinatal death.
The expert professionals at London Medical have experience in dealing with gestational diabetes and can help you control your sugar levels and stay healthy.
The specialist diabetologists at London Medical will work together with your antenatal care team to set blood sugar targets, prescribe the best evidence-based treatments and provide a monitor so that you can keep your glucose levels at the optimum level for you and your baby
Let's work together to control your gestational diabetes
Many women can control their gestational diabetes with diet and activity alone. However, the correct nutritional input is important for the healthy development of your baby. It’s important to focus on a healthy balanced diet, reducing refined carbohydrates and sugars. Choose fresh fruit and veg, lean protein, pulses and wholegrains and avoid processed, fast and sugary foods, which tend to be high in calories and low in nutrients.
The London Diabetes Centre has appointments available daily with a specialist dietitian. They can provide customised dietary advice, specific to your individual needs. They can also offer ongoing support and guidance both by email and in follow-up sessions.
Monitoring and medication
The management of gestational diabetes will involve regular appointments for monitoring of your sugar levels and your health, both before the birth and in the postnatal period. Medication may be needed to control the glucose levels and maintain your health and that of your baby.
The London Diabetes Centre are world leaders in diabetes care. The multidisciplinary team can offer expert education, cutting edge pumps and monitors and specialist support to help you have a healthy pregnancy, a safe birth and a happy future with your new baby.
Many women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms at all, they may be diagnosed on routine screening or following blood or urine checks. The condition usually develops in the third trimester, between 24 and 28 weeks.
However, if glucose levels start to rise you may notice:
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Increased urination
- Repeated thrush infections
If you are worried about gestational diabetes, see your midwife or GP, or make an appointment at the London Diabetes Centre.
Around 1 in 20 pregnant women in the UK develop gestational diabetes, and it can happen to anyone. However, there are a number of factors that increase your risk of developing the condition:
- A history of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
- Giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 10lbs in a previous pregnancy.
- Obesity.
- A family history of diabetes. You are more at risk if a parent or sibling has had gestational or type 2 diabetes.
- Afro-Caribbean, South Asian or Middle Eastern ethnicity.
All women at risk will be screened for gestational diabetes as part of NHS antenatal care. The London Diabetes Centre offers screening, monitoring and management of gestational diabetes and expert nutritional advice from a dietitian.
After the birth, the body’s hormone requirement usually drops dramatically. Blood glucose monitoring is important at this stage and medication will usually be stopped to prevent dangerously low sugar levels.
Your glucose levels will usually be checked by your pregnancy team on discharge and at your six-week check. The London Diabetes Centre also provides postnatal checks, this is especially important if you notice any symptoms, because pregnancy can reveal underlying type 2 diabetes which will need ongoing treatment and specialist care.
If you have had gestational diabetes, you are at increased risk of gestational diabetes in future pregnancies and also of developing type 2 diabetes. That sounds frightening, but there is good news: Losing weight to reach a healthy BMI, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can help you prevent diabetes and safeguard your future health.
The London Diabetes Centre offers regular screening and specialist support to prevent diabetes developing.
Support Plans
Diabetes risk assessment
London Diabetes Centre premium package
London Diabetes Centre protocol
Looking to speak with a member of our team?
Carol Willis - Diabetes Clinic Facilitator
If you couldn't find what you were looking for today, feel free to give us a call at 0800 048 3330 and ask Carol and her team.
Alternatively, just fill in this form and someone will get in touch with you promptly.
By using this form, you are consenting to the storage and handling of the data contained in the form by our team.