Learn to monitor diabetes during pregnancy; frequency of blood-glucose monitoring, target glucose level, and diabetes relief.
Pregnancy blood-glucose monitoring frequency
For women who are, pregnancies with pre-existing diabetes both type 1 &2, experts recommend monitoring blood-glucose level for up to eight times a day. You should take this eight readings at; wake up, before each meal, one or two hours after food, at bedtime and occasionally at early morning (2 to 3 a.m.).
If you are taking three meals daily, the total test will add up to eight readings. If your wake up reading is high, then you should monitor early-morning glucose level and change treatment until it reaches your target range.
What should be the blood glucose target?
Talk to your healthcare professional for the target ranges that fulfill your requirements. The blood glucose target may be a slightly higher in the first trimester.
Glucose Monitoring Time | Normal Range | Target Range |
Fasting (before eating) | 60-90 mg/dl (3.3 – 5 mmol/L) | 60-105 mg/dl (3.3 – 5.8 mmol/L) |
One hour after eating | less than 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/L) | 110-130 mg/dl (6.1 – 7.2 mmol/L) |
Two hours after eating | less than 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/L) | 90-120 mg/dl (5 – 6.7 mmol/L) |
Contact your doctor if you are having two consecutive glucose readings greater than 200 mg/dl.
How soon after delivery, does my blood-glucose normalize?
In about 90% of the women with gestational diabetes, the blood-glucose level returns to normal within six to eight weeks after delivery. However, you are at increased risk of developing diabetes type 2. A study shows women who had gestational diabetes are at risk of up to 60% for developing diabetes in the next 10 to 20 years.