Health Tip: Understanding Gestational Diabetes

If you have gestational diabetes -- which develops while you're pregnant -- your goal is to keep your blood sugar at or below the same level as the average pregnant woman without the disease.

The American Diabetes Association offers this advice for women with gestational diabetes:

• Follow any special meal plan and physical activity recommendations from your doctor.
• Keep your worries in perspective. Understand that with the right care and treatment, you can have a healthy pregnancy.
• Look ahead. Although your gestational diabetes will most likely go away after your baby is born, you are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Lose any excess weight, and make healthy food choices.