Doctor Advises Pregnant Women On Healthy Lifestyle

A Diabetologist in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Dr Olubiyi Adesina, has advised expectant mothers to eat healthy and watch their weight during pregnancy to prevent gestational diabetes.

The consultant gave the advice in an interview with the newsmen in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

He defined gestational diabetes as a temporary condition which occurs during pregnancy but disappears after delivery.

Adesina, however, said that a woman could develop a more permanent type of diabetes if she gained weight.

“Gestational diabetes means high blood sugar first found during pregnancy. In most cases, it is managed by diet and exercise but goes away after the baby is born,” Adesina explained.

He attributed the risk of developing the condition to family history.

Adesina added that a woman who had given birth to a baby weighing more than 4kg or had delivered more than five children was also at high risk.

He said that the intake of diets rich in vegetable and whole fruit and regular exercising would reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Adesina said that babies born to mothers with this condition were at a risk of jaundice, respiratory distress, low blood calcium or death.

The doctor said that the diabetes could be controlled by maintaining blood glucose levels, blood fat levels and weight.

“A cure for diabetes has not been found yet; however, it can be controlled so as to help prevent serious complications such as infections, kidney damage and heart disease,” he said.

The treatment of gestational diabetes, according to Adesina, involves keeping the blood glucose levels in a target range by eating healthy and exercising.