It's Never Too Early to Prevent Diabetes. A Lifetime of Small Steps for a Healthy Family.

If you had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, you and your child have a lifelong risk for getting diabetes.

Because of this risk, you need to be tested for diabetes after your baby is born, then at least once every three years. Reduce your risk by taking small steps for you and your family. If you weigh too much, you can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes if you lose a small amount of weight and become more active. Your children can lower their risk for type 2 diabetes if they don’t become overweight. Serve them healthy foods and help them to be more active.

Your children can lower their risk for type 2 diabetes if they don’t become overweight. Serve them healthy foods and help them to be more active.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

It is a type of diabetes that occurs when women are pregnant. Having it raises their risk for getting diabetes, mostly type 2, for the rest of their lives. African American, Hispanic/Latina, American Indian, and Alaska Native women have the highest risk.

More information on gestational diabetes.

A Lifetime of Small Steps for A Healthy Family

Action Steps

FOR YOU:

1. Ask your doctor if you had gestational diabetes. If so, let your future health care providers know.
2. Get tested for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks after your baby is born, then at least once every 3 years.
3. Breastfeed your baby. It may lower your child’s risk of being overweight or obese. These are risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
4. Talk to your doctor if you plan to become pregnant again in the future.
5. Try to reach your pre-pregnancy weight 6 to 12 months after your baby is born. Then, if you still weigh too much, work to lose at least 5 to 7 percent (10 to 14 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds) of your body weight slowly, over time, and keep it off.
6. Make healthy food choices such as fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meats, dry beans and peas, whole grains, and low-fat or skim milk and cheese. Choose water to drink.
7. Eat smaller portions of healthy foods to help you reach and stay at a healthy weight.
8. Be active at least 30 minutes, 5 days per week to help burn calories and lose weight.

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:

1. Ask your child’s doctor for an eating plan to help your child grow properly and stay at a healthy weight. Tell your child’s doctor that you had gestational diabetes. Tell your child about his or her risk for diabetes.
2. Help your children make healthy food choices and help them to be active at least 60 minutes a day.
3. Follow a healthy lifestyle together as a family. Help family members stay at a healthy weight by making healthy food choices and moving more.
4. Limit TV, video, and computer game time to an hour or two a day.

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) offers materials that can help you and your family make healthy food choices to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. You can order a booklet for adults at risk called Your GAME PLAN to Prevent type 2 Diabetes, and a tip sheet for children at risk called Lower Your Risk for type 2 Diabetes.

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May 2010