An Ageless Woman's Guide to Heart Health by Elizabeth Jackson

Author:Elizabeth Jackson [Jackson, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781938170232
Publisher: Spry Publishing LLC

After Delivery: Future Risk for Diabetes

An estimated 33 to 66 percent of women with gestational diabetes will develop the condition again with future pregnancies. The chances also increase with age—women who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy have a much higher risk (about eight times higher) of diabetes as they get older. In addition, women who have gestational diabetes and are overweight significantly increase their chances of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. Between 50 and 75 percent of women who have gestational diabetes and are overweight (i.e., obese) will develop type 2 diabetes. As mentioned before, excess fat around the waistline is the most common risk factor. Even women who are considered normal weight have a slightly increased risk for developing diabetes in the future once they’ve had gestational diabetes—about 25 percent or less. But again, type 2 diabetes can be prevented with dietary changes, regular exercise, and weight loss.

Considering this increased risk, it’s important for women who have had gestational diabetes to have their blood glucose monitored regularly throughout their lifetimes. The possibility of developing type 2 diabetes becomes greater with time—from a 5 percent increase in the first year after pregnancy to a 20 percent increase ten years down the road. Therefore, the American Diabetes Association recommends:

•Annual glucose monitoring for women age 45 or greater at the time of pregnancy with gestational diabetes

•Testing every three years for women under the age of 45 years with gestational diabetes

Why is this so important for heart health? A woman with a history of gestational diabetes is at an increased risk for developing heart disease. Even if your blood glucose levels were close to normal and you did not need medication to keep it under control during your pregnancy, having gestational diabetes still puts you at greater risk for developing diabetes and heart disease at an earlier age, compared to women with normal glucose levels throughout their pregnancies.

Take a Step

To sum things up, what’s good for diabetes prevention and management is also good for your heart. That’s great news for all us multitasking women! Leading a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce your chances of developing diabetes, as well as heart disease. In addition to following recommended dietary and exercise guidelines, here are a few simple steps you can take to ward off diabetes:

•Get Tested—Find out what your fasting glucose level is and keep track of any changes. If you have risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes, you may need to be tested more often. Also, if your fasting blood glucose level has been elevated in the past (over 100 mg/dL) then more frequent monitoring is recommended. Remember, a diagnosis of prediabetes gives you an opportunity to reduce your blood sugar with lifestyle changes and prevent type 2 diabetes.

•Get Treated—Sometimes, despite lifestyle changes, blood sugar levels remain high. For certain women with prediabetes or metabolic syndrome, medications together with diet and exercise are the best management. Talk to your health-care provider about what’s right for you.

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