|
Lifestyle Changes For Women With Gestational Diabetes |
|
The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) wants women to know that small steps can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes:
- Ask your doctor if you had GDM. If so, let future health care providers know you had GDM.
- Get tested for diabetes six to 12 weeks after the baby is born, then every one to two years.
- Talk to your doctor if you plan to become pregnant again.
- Breastfeed to help lower your child's risk for diabetes.
- Aim for your prepregnancy weight six to 12 months after the baby is born. If you are still overweight, lose weight slowly and keep it off.
- Eat a variety of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meats, dry beans, whole grains, and low-fat or skim milk and cheese.
- Eat smaller portions.
- Be physically active at least 30 minutes, five days per week. Children should be physically active 60 minutes a day.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle as a family. Help family members stay at a healthy weight by eating healthy foods and moving more.
- Help children learn to make healthy food choices.
- Limit TV, video, and computer game time to one to two hours a day.
For women who have had GDM, NDEP has a tip sheet in English, It's Never Too Early to Prevent Diabetes. A Lifetime of Small Steps for a Healthy Family, and in Spanish, Nunca Es Muy Temprano Para Prevenir la Diabetes. Pequeños Pasos de por Vida Para Una Familia Sana.
|
