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Congratulations! You have just delivered your baby, now what happens?

This is a special time in your life when YOU can make healthy changes that will impact your family for a lifetime. With obesity and diabetes on the rise in all age groups, you can make a difference in your family’s health and prevent this disease by making healthy food choices and finding ways for everyone to get regular exercise. Plan activities together as a family that involve physical activity, like walking after meals, going to the park, or biking to a local place.

Most likely your blood sugar levels will go back to normal, however you have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5 to 10 years after pregnancy. To lower your risk for diabetes in the future, follow these tips below.

Tips for Women who had GDM

Keep eating healthy foods. Choose foods high in fiber. Include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish in your meals. To learn more, go to MyPyramid.gov or

Making Healthy Choices: Your Food Pyramid
Making Healthy Choices: Your Food Pyramid (Spanish)
Making Healthy Choices: Your Food Pyramid 食物金字塔

Also, you can ask your primary care provider for a referral to see the registered dietitian.

1. Make a plan for regular exercise. Stay active by doing moderate physical activities 30 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week. Walking, swimming, dancing, and bicycling are example activities, but check with your primary care provider before starting.
2. Gradually lose the weight you gained during pregnancy until you reach your healthy weight. A 5 to 7 percent decrease in your body weight can help delay or prevent diabetes. To find out what your healthy weight is, use the body mass index (BMI) calculator tool.
3. Get your blood sugar tested 6 to 8 weeks after delivering your baby.
4. Each year, make a point to get your blood sugar tested on your baby’s birthday.
5. If you’re planning a future pregnancy, talk with your doctor or nurse practitioner first.
6. Make sure your blood sugar is in control before your next pregnancy, otherwise you have a higher risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
7. Learn more about developing a healthy lifestyle through our web site information or attend Kaiser Permanente Health classes

Prediabetes
Are you at risk for diabetes?
Pre-Diabetes: How You Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Prediabetes: Preguntas frecuentes

Diabetes
Healthier living with diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes: Act Now to Reduce your Risks
Diabetes tipo 2: Actúe ahora mismo para reducir sus riesgos

Breastfeeding

The nutrition that your baby receives now will affect his or her growth and development. Breastfeeding has many benefits for you and your baby. It can help you lose weight, promote bonding between you and your baby, and is economical. Your baby will receive the most nutritional “food” through your breast milk and will gain protection from infection and allergies. For more information, see the links below:

After your baby is born

Breastfeeding

Amamantando Durante las Primeras Semanas (Spanish)

MyPyramid for Breastfeeding

Click here for additional information about Nutrition and Gestational Diabetes