Patient's question:
Gestational diabetes, good dietary control, no longer controlled after childbirth, normal fasting blood glucose, 10 points after one hour of meal, also normal HbA1c three months postpartum. Please tell me, is this diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance?Doctor's answer:
Most women with gestational diabetes will have normal blood sugar levels after giving birth, but about one-fifth of them may still develop diabetes within the next 10 years. Some women with gestational diabetes continue to have high blood sugar levels postpartum. Some of these cases involve women who had diabetes before pregnancy but were not diagnosed, while others involve gestational diabetes triggering abnormal glucose metabolism. Although some hormones return to normal after childbirth, blood sugar levels may still be elevated. If the pancreatic function is normal, dietary adjustments are needed, such as eating small, frequent meals (5-6 times a day) and increasing physical activity. Continued monitoring is also recommended.