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Lifestyle Changes For Women With Gestational Diabetes

Women who have had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an increased lifelong risk-up to a 50 percent chance-of getting diabetes in the future, and their offspring have a higher risk than other children for obesity and diabetes. Women can take small steps to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and help their children lower their risk for obesity and diabetes.

GDM is a form of diabetes that affects about 200,000 U.S. pregnancies each year. GDM occurs more in obese women, women with a family history of diabetes, and among African American, Hispanic/ Latino, and American Indian and Alaska Native women.

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.

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