Previously Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes
If you’ve had gestational diabetes, you have up to a 1 in 2 chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 5-10 years and having gestational diabetes in future pregnancies.
If you’ve had gestational diabetes it’s important to continue to have your Hb A1c checked :
- At least 3 months postnatal – to make sure your blood glucose levels have returned to normal
- Once a year HbA1c – to detect prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
- Before future pregnancies – to rule out diabetes before becoming pregnant.
As well as Gestational Diabetes there are additional risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes, which include:
- being over 40 years (or 25 for South Asian people)
- having a close relative with diabetes (such as a parent, brother or sister)
- being overweight or obese
- being of South Asian, Chinese, African Caribbean or black African origin (even if you were born in the UK)
- having polycystic ovary syndrome
- smoking
There is a lot you can do to reduce your risk, these include:
- eating well
- staying active · being the right weight for your height
- stopping smoking
What support is available?
Within NHS Grampian we have a service specifically designed to offer support to women who have had a diagnosis of gestational diabetes during pregnancy. If you are new to motherhood you will have been informed of this service during your pregnancy and received 3 mail drops from us. These mail drops are sent at 3, 6 and 9 months after the delivery of your baby and offer you support and ways to get in contact with us. If you are not new to motherhood, this service is still for you and we encourage you to access these services.
What is this service?
We offer telephone consultations, by an NHS Dietitian, to talk through any areas of concern you may have and link you into services that will be of use to you.
We are very happy to be contacted to discuss how we might be able to help you in any aspect of your lifestyle, for example dietary information, exploring breaking eating habits and physical activity levels. You can contact us on 01224 655708 or email gram.patientgroupeducation@nhs.scot
Balance is a 9 month weight management programme, delivered via the NHS ‘Near Me’ platform in groups.
There are 2 stages to the programme:
- 12 weekly sessions to increase your knowledge and confidence to make changes to diet and physical activity. The programme will help you develop techniques for making these changes.
- 6 further monthly sessions to support your weight loss journey, with continued advice on making lasting changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Ask your GP for a referral to the adult weight management service to find out if this programme is suitable for you
The Counterweight Programme is a habit based behaviour change programme and helps you to lose 5-10% of your starting body weight and keep it off. The programme is delivered in various leisure centres across Grampian.
The programme will be delivered weekly in a group setting over 12 weeks, followed by support sessions at 6,9 and 12 months. You will be supported to make sustainable changes to your eating habits and activity levels in order to lose weight. Support will be provided throughout the programme from your Counterweight Coach, other group members and via the educational content in the Counterweight App or Workbook.
You can be referred by your GP Practice or you can self-refer by following the links below,
Online weight management programme to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle and weight.
For applicable adult weight management patients. Online weight management and diabetes prevention programmes designed to support long term healthy habits and improve overall health. This service is free through NHS Grampian, you can contact us directly on 01224 556556 or email gram.adultweightmanagementservice@nhs.scot to find out if this programme is suitable for you or you can ask your GP Practice to refer you to the Adult Weight Management service.
Helpful information is available from the NHS Grampian Healthpoint team on 08085 202030 or you can follow the links below: