Now that your pregnancy is over, there are some things to consider as you head home.

More than likely, your gestational diabetes will go away after you have your baby, but it is very important that you take proper precautions. You should get re-screened with a fasting plasma glucose (a blood draw) and a 75 gram 2-hour OGTT (drink) at 6- 12 weeks after delivery. This drink is followed by a blood draw two hours later.

If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and it was not in good control prior to your pregnancy, this is the time to get healthy so you will live a healthier and longer life!

We will show you how.

Please click on the different notes on the board to determine what needs to be done based on your numbers.

Let's take a look at the risks associated with gestational diabetes for women after they deliver their baby. Here we have some percentages. Up to what percentage of all women who have had gestational diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years after pregnancy?

20%?

30%?

60%?

or

70%?

Click on the answer to find out.

There are some symptoms that you need to be aware of. If you have any of these, please get screened for Type 2 Diabetes.

Excessive hunger and/or thirst.

Needing to urinate often

Blurred vision

Cuts or infections that are slow to heal

and

If you are feeling more tired than usual

Now that we know the signs and symptoms as well as some important facts, let's look at what you can do to decrease your chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes after you have your baby.

The first form of prevention that we are going to look at is Weight Loss.

If you are overweight, weight loss is one of the best ways to prevent developing Type 2 Diabetes after you have had your baby. Even losing just 7% of your body weight can help decrease this risk. Motivation plays a large role in weight loss. If you are successful, you will feel better, live longer, and have a better quality of life.

Let's take a look at some of the general guidelines that you need to follow when it comes to weight loss.

For your weight loss plan to be successful, you must stay on schedule. This means that you should eat something every 3-4 hours. You want to eat a well-balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Also, be mindful of what you are drinking as fruit juices and sodas have lots of calories. You may want to choose other options such as water, unsweetened tea, or diet calorie-free beverages.

Another great way to lose weight is to remain active. There are numerous ways to do this. One, you can park your car farther away from your destination. You can also take the stairs instead of the elevator when you have the chance.

Breastfeeding your baby is also a way to help prevent the development of Type 2 Diabetes. The World Health Organization actually recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed in their first six months of life.

There are many benefits of breastfeeding. These include:

Weight loss for the mother

It helps decrease the chance that your baby will be overweight later in life

It decreases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

It lowers the chance that your child will develop Type 1 Diabetes

Breastfed babies may have higher IQ scores

Your baby will have fewer infections

Breastfeeding decreases mother's risk of breast cancer

Along with many other long-lasting benefits for mother and baby.

After you have had your baby, it is important to continue healthy habits you formed in pregnancy. Remember:

Portion Control

Small Frequent Meals

and

A Good Ratio of Carbohydrates to Protein

Weight loss is not easy, but is achievable by setting realistic goals.

After your post-partum checkup at 6 weeks, your weight-loss goals of 1/2 pound to 1 pound weekly is realistic.

Remember, the goal is not to starve yourself but choose a calorie goal that will leave you well-nourished and satisfied.

If you are nursing, it is critical that you eat enough to support your milk supply. For questions regarding breastfeeding and nutrition, go to www.llli.org, for the La Leche League.

There are other resources available as well. You can click on the smartphone to see a list. Click on the buttons to be taken to each site. These will also be available in the Resources tab of this course.

Exercise can also decrease your chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Once you have been cleared by your doctor, it is recommended that you get 150 minutes of exercise per week. You should not go more than 2 consecutive days without exercise.

To help make exercise a permanent part of your life, pick an activity that you enjoy and consider getting an exercise buddy.

Let's take a look at some different activities that you can do to burn calories.

Here are some examples of activities and the calories that can be burned in one hour of each activity for a person that weighs 155 pounds.

Something as simple as raking leaves can burn 264 calories.

If you need to bathe your dog, that could burn 246 calories.

Cycling around at a pace of less than 10 mph for one hour can burn 281 calories.

Even walking for an hour burns 250 calories.

Other activities can be found online and on the apps listed before and in the Resources tab.

Remember, you have the ability to help prevent developing Type 2 Diabetes. Through weight loss, a healthy diet, and exercise, prevention is possible. Thank you for taking this course.

There are tools to help you come up with a realistic weight loss goal. To calculate calories needed to lose weight, visit caloriecalculator.net. If you are on a budget, choosemyplate.gov is a great resource. If you are breastfeeding, visit the La Leche League website. And, if you want to keep track of your food, weight, and caloric values, sites like myfitnesspal and loseit are helpful.