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
For applicable adult weight management patients. Second Nature Weight Management is designed to support you to achieve sustainable weight loss. This programme is suitable for those with or without a diagnosis of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. An optional three month local leisure membership is available for those who wish to improve physical activity levels. Ask your GP Practice to refer you to Adult Weight Management Services to find out if this programme is suitable for you.
Online weight management programme to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle and weight.
For applicable adult weight management patients. Online 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.
We deliver an online programme supported by one of the community dietetic team for those people who do not wish to undertake it by themselves. An optional three month local leisure membership is available for those who wish to improve physical activity levels.
Think Well, Eat Well is an NHS Grampian programme delivered by specialist dietitians and psychologists to support people with more complex needs. The programme will help people to make lifestyle and behaviour changes that can improve their relationship with food as well as overall health, wellbeing, and help them achieve a healthier weight.
Helpful information is available from the NHS Grampian Healthpoint team on 08085 202030 or you can follow the links below: