Type 2 Diabetes Risk With Gestational Diabetes and Proactive Steps
More Programs and Publications Featuring Dr. Kyle Riding
In this program:
Does gestational diabetes increase risk of diabetes or diabetic complications? Medical laboratory scientist Dr. Kyle Riding explains the risk factor and provides proactive advice to help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Transcript
Deandre White:
So aside from type 1 and type 2 diabetes which are obviously very chronic, let's also think about temporary diabetes like gestational diabetes for instance. So my question is, are you at an increased risk for future diabetic complications if you do experience gestational diabetes as a woman who's pregnant?
Dr. Kyle Riding:
Yes. You do actually have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you have had gestational diabetes. In fact, it's found that patients with gestational diabetes, 50 percent of them will go on to develop type 2 diabetes. So what can patients do who have had gestational diabetes to try and prevent that? Because these are all risk factors. It doesn't mean it's a certainty, it just means you have a risk. What can you do to try and mitigate that risk? Well, some data that's come out is, the best thing you can do is follow through with all prenatal testing, so that if you do have gestational diabetes, it's detected, so that you can then have preventative care later on after delivery. From there, dietary recommendations that are going to prevent the formation of type 2 diabetes, and additionally physical activity and trying to keep a healthy weight, are really important. And that's what the CDC recommends as preventative means for patients with a history of gestational diabetes from transitioning into type 2 diabetes later in life.
Deandre White:
And going based off of those recommendations, what if we're looking at women who are already at risk of developing diabetes, let's say genetically, or they're already pre-diabetic prior to getting pregnant? So how can these women in particular protect themselves during pregnancy since they're also going to be at risk of gestational diabetes and then further on type 2 diabetes?
Dr. Kyle Riding:
That is one of the hardest darn things we have to deal with when you have that family history or you have a genetic propensity for it. But, unfortunately, the best thing we have available at this time are the things I've mentioned, which are the screening to try and catch it early, and lifestyle interventions. So really looking at your diet and seeing, "All right. What can I do to try and prevent the diabetes onset while still enjoying life?" You don't want to live your life miserable trying to prevent diabetes. I certainly...I have a family history myself and...
Deandre White:
I do too. [chuckle]
Dr. Kyle Riding:
Oh, yeah. [laughter]
Deandre White:
Yeah. I actually found out that I was pre-diabetic a couple months ago, so I completely cut out candy, I've already been working out, so it's kind of...it's very difficult because even if you already have a very healthy lifestyle, having a genetic predisposition really could trump all of that. So you really have to be careful.
Dr. Kyle Riding:
Exactly. And I feel in some ways, I'm a ticking time bomb at times with it, and it's such a healthy...I'm physically active, I think I could lose a few pounds, but you know, that's...I'm not going to shame myself on that and neither should any patient or anyone watching the video. But sometimes the risks that we inherit in our lives, we just have to work as best as we can and not drive ourselves insane through that process, and to just do the best we can for our health. And if we're taking all of those healthy steps and we're following as healthy of a lifestyle and enjoying life as best as we can, well, there's tools that are available that can be used to treat diabetes if it does develop, and there's ways to prevent adverse outcomes as well. So we're getting really good at managing diabetes as long as patients are following what's being requested of them, and trying their best, and that's all any of us can do at the end of it.
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