Gestational diabetes blood sugar standards

Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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The diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes involve a pregnant woman undergoing a 75-gram glucose test at any time during pregnancy to measure fasting blood glucose, blood glucose one hour after consuming glucose, and blood glucose two hours after consuming glucose. The thresholds are: fasting blood glucose equal to or greater than 5.1 mmol/L, blood glucose one hour after glucose intake equal to or greater than 10.0 mmol/L, and blood glucose two hours after glucose intake equal to or greater than 8.5 mmol/L. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes can be made if blood glucose levels exceed these standards at any of the three time points. In China, pregnant women typically undergo the 75-gram glucose test between the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. Women at high risk for gestational diabetes are advised to undergo the 75-gram glucose test early.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
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Dietary Guidance for Gestational Diabetes

The dietary principles for gestational diabetes are consistent with those for non-pregnant diabetes. Firstly, the total daily caloric intake should be balanced, with carbohydrates accounting for 50%-60%, proteins for 15%-20%, and fats for 20%-30%. The overall principle is to eat smaller, more frequent meals, ideally adding two to three snacks to the three main meals per day. Common foods primarily include milk, proteins, egg whites, and fruits. Then, generally maintain the level of diet before pregnancy without overly restricting it. It is advisable to consume a significant amount of vegetables, no less than 500 grams daily, to supplement vitamins and fiber.

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Written by Chen Li Ping
Endocrinology
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Does gestational diabetes cause itching in the vulva?

During gestational diabetes, white blood cells have various functional defects, reduced chemotaxis, phagocytic action, and bactericidal activity. This can easily lead to infections during pregnancy or childbirth, and even develop into sepsis, often caused by bacteria or fungi. Therefore, when blood sugar is not controlled in gestational diabetes, there may be symptoms like vulvar itching, or even infections of the urinary or reproductive systems. If the infection is not further treated, it may cause preterm birth, or even septic shock. Therefore, in gestational diabetes, it is crucial to actively control blood sugar and prevent infections.

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Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
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How to self-test for gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes refers to conditions where there was no diabetes before pregnancy, and during the course of the pregnancy, specifically between the 24th to 28th weeks, a standard glucose tolerance test is conducted to screen for glucose metabolism. The specific procedure involves not eating after 8 p.m. the night before, though drinking water is allowed, followed by fasting for more than ten hours. The first blood sample is taken on an empty stomach. Then, 75 grams of anhydrous glucose, as prescribed by the doctor, is dissolved in 250 to 350 milliliters of water and consumed within 3 to 5 minutes. Starting from the first sip of this glucose solution, blood samples are taken again one hour and two hours later. The results from these three blood samples are used to determine the possibility of gestational diabetes.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Should pregnant women with gestational diabetes drink whole milk or skim milk?

If a pregnant woman has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, she needs to be very careful about her diet. Whether to drink full-fat or skim milk during pregnancy depends on the individual's caloric needs. Considering the different amounts of calories produced by fats and proteins, skim milk generally has lower calories. Therefore, a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes can drink skim milk, but she should also be cautious about the total amount of milk consumed. She should not drink too much at once or consume milk excessively, because both full-fat and skim milk can lead to a significant increase in blood sugar levels.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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Gestational diabetes standard values

Standards for gestational diabetes, so what is gestational diabetes? It refers to diabetes that either develops during pregnancy or is first detected at this stage, presenting varying degrees of hyperglycemia, including previously unrecognized glucose intolerance or diabetes prior to pregnancy. Pregnancies in known diabetic patients are not included in this category, and may also be referred to as diabetes complicating pregnancy. So, how is gestational diabetes diagnosed? We can conduct a 75g anhydrous glucose tolerance test, where a fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 5.1 mmol/L, and blood glucose greater than 10 mmol/L one hour after, meets the criteria to diagnose gestational diabetes.