You are receiving this information because you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes (high blood sugar levels during pregnancy). You can read more about what this is and what it can mean for you and your baby in our leaflet Gestational Diabetes from Rondom Zwanger.

It is important to properly control blood sugar in women with gestational diabetes. Then the risks during pregnancy and around birth are minimal. That is why there are now a number of things that must be done.

1. Make an appointment with the dietician

Women with gestational diabetes are usually advised to eat fewer carbohydrates and fats. In most cases (85%) it is possible to normalize blood sugars in this way. In order to discuss diet and lifestyle advice, we advise you to make an appointment with the dietician within a week. Our practice works together with the dietician below. She knows what the intention is when you meet with her.

Voedingsbureau de Winter: 023-5573344 of receptie@dewinter.nl

2. Make an appointment at the midwifery practice

From now on you have to keep track of your own blood sugar values ​​with a finger prick. To do this, you will receive a starter box through the midwifery practice. It contains a glucose meter, a lancing device, 200 lancets (pricks), 100 test strips, a sharps container and a diary in which you can keep track of the values. Make an appointment at the practice for instructions and to collect the box.

3. Determine and keep track of values

For the first two weeks you have to keep a 4-point day curve. You prick 4 times a day:

• Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken after an overnight fast immediately after waking up
• 3 times a day one hour after breakfast, your lunch and dinner. (If you are unable to prick after 1 hour, then you could prick 2 hours after your meal.)

You do this for 4 days in a row. Note: 1 day of this must be in the weekend. Use the diary to write down your values.

You can check for yourself whether your blood sugar level is correct. These are normal values:

• Fasting: less than or equal to 5.3
• 1 hour after the meal: less than or equal to 7.8
• 2 hours after the meal: less than or equal to 6.7

For an explanation of how to use the lancing device and the glucose meter, watch the video below:

Instruction glucose meter

4. Mail the values ​​to the midwife

At the end of your injection week, the midwife must assess your measurements. Take a picture of the values ​​in your diary and send it to: info@vkph.nl.

Note: Always put your name and date of birth in your e-mail message!

The midwife will answer your email within a few days. She checks whether your blood sugars can be properly regulated in this way.

If your results usually fall within the normal values, please email us once a week on the Tuesday. Wednesday is the standard day that we asses al of your values. If your results are very abnormal, we would like to receive them earlier. Sometimes it is necessary to refer you to a gynaecologist.

How to continue?

Are your blood sugar levels (in generally)  normal after the first two weeks, then it could be that we ask you to prick less frequently. You will receive new instructions from your midwife. Sometimes you don’t need to prick at all anymore. Then you can return the empty starter box to the midwifery practice.

Via the supplier we can request a new one for another client. You can keep the glucose meter for own use in the future.

Costs:

Dietary advice from a dietitian is partially covered by your basic insurance, but may be payed from your deductible. Look here for more information about Insurance and deductible. The costs for the starter box fall under “medical devices” and are also being payed from your deductible. Therefore, contact your health insurance policy yourself to find out which costs are for your own account.

Are the lancets or test strips from the starter box finished? You can then order new ones via: Mediq. Note that you have you pay for these new test strips.

Questions 

Do you have questions or do you need some more explanation? Please do not hesitate to contact us:

• info@vkph.nl
• 0252-674858

Good luck with everything!!