Instructions for the Postpartum Patient With Gestational Diabetes

Once you go home, continue to do the following:

1. Monitoring
   • Keep a log of blood glucose levels for your doctor; bring log to your next doctor’s visit.
   • Check blood sugar twice a day; fasting and either 2 hours after breakfast, lunch or dinner for three weeks:
   • May discontinue testing if blood glucose remains in target level: 70-110 when fasting140-160 after meals
   • Follow up with your primary care doctor for further testing:
   • If blood sugar is greater than 70-110 when fasting
   • If blood sugar is greater than 140-160 after meals
2. Meals
   • The dietitian will help you make changes to your diet if you are breastfeeding. You should still eat three meals and three snacks every day.
3. Insulin
   • After delivery, your insulin needs drop dramatically.
   • Your doctor may change your insulin dose.
   • If you still need to take insulin, your insulin needs may go back to the levels they were before you became pregnant. This may happen two to six weeks after your baby is born.
4. Follow-up care
   • Keep follow-up appointment with your obstetrician/gynecologist
   • Follow a healthy lifestyle:
     • Healthy weight
     • Exercise program
     • Healthy meal plan
     • Your doctor may order a repeat oral glucose tolerance test 6-12 weeks after delivery.
   • It is important to have yearly follow-up care:
     • Gestational diabetes can return later in life as type 2 diabetes.
     • Yearly dilated eye exams will help detect any changes in the retina that could indicate early type 2 diabetes.
     • Yearly doctor exams and fasting blood work will help detect any signs of type 2 diabetes.
     • Before you become pregnant again, you should visit your doctor. You need to make sure your fasting blood glucose level and other lab work is in the normal range so you can safely become pregnant.
5. Call the Woman’s Hospital Diabetes Center at 924-8550 if you have any questions.