Spit-up On My Shoulder

From 2001-2004, 344 women with gestational diabetes (GD) - high blood sugar during pregnancy - were tracked by Dr. Michelle A. Russell, MD, of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Vermont.

Dr. Russell found that less than half of the women were checked for blood sugar levels at their postpartum visit. Among those who were checked, 28 percent already had above normal blood sugar and another 8 percent had test scores that indicated diabetes.

The abstract of the study can be found here.

If you’ve had GD, you have a risk factor for developing diabetes. According to Dr. Russell, your odds after delivery can (but usually don’t) rise 50 to 70 percent.

Some women who don’t get tested at their postpartum visit, later develop Type 2 diabetes. If they had known earlier that their blood sugar levels were still high after the birth, diet and exercise adjustments could have helped delay the oncurrence of the disease.

Be sure to have your blood sugar levels tested at your postpartum visit if you’ve had GD. The sooner you know what you’re dealing with, the sooner you can take steps for your health.

Take care or yourself and don’t be afraid to speak up to your doctor and get tested!