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Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Self Care. Caring For Yourself

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Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Self Care Caring for yourself after you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes (gestational diabetes mellitus) means keeping your blood sugar (glucose) under control with a balance of: • Nutrition. • Exercise. • Lifestyle changes. • Medicine, if necessary. • Support from your team of health care providers and others. The following information will explain what you need to know when managing your gestational diabetes at home. WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT MANAGING MY BLOOD GLUCOSE? You should check your blood glucose level every day during your pregnancy, as told by your health care provider. Your health care provider will set individualized treatment goals for you based on the stage of…show more content…
Family members and close friends should also know the symptoms and should understand how to treat hypoglycemia, in case if you are not able to treat yourself. What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia? • Tremors or shakes. • Decreased ability to concentrate. • Sweating. • Increased heart rate. • Headache. • Blurry vision. • Dry mouth. • Hunger. • Irritability. • Anxiety. • Restless sleep. • A change in speech. • A change in coordination. • Confusion. How do I treat hypoglycemia? If you are alert and able to swallow safely, follow the 15:15 rule: • Take 15 grams of a rapid-acting carbohydrate. Rapid-acting options include: ○ 1 tube of glucose gel. ○ 3 glucose pills. ○ 6–8 pieces of hard candy. ○ 4 oz (120 mL) of fruit juice or regular (not diet) soda. • Check your blood glucose level 15 minutes after you take the carbohydrate. • If the repeat blood glucose level is still at or below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), take 15–20 grams of a carbohydrate again. • If your blood glucose level does not increase above 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) after 3 attempts, seek emergency medical care. • After your blood glucose level returns to normal, eat a meal or a snack within 1 hour. How do I treat severe hypoglycemia? Severe hypoglycemia is when your blood glucose level is at or below 54 mg/dL (3 mmol/L). Severe hypoglycemia is an emergency.
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