Gestational Diabetes 101

Pancreas

A long gland that lies behind the stomach. The pancreas manufactures insulin and digestive enzymes.

Placenta

A special tissue that joins the mother and fetus. It provides hormones necessary for a successful pregnancy and supplies the fetus with water and nutrients (food) from the mother's blood.

Protein

A substance found in many parts of the body that helps the body to resist disease. Protein often, but not always, comes from animal products. High protein foods include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, hard cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk. Non-animal sources of protein are nuts and seeds, peanut butter, legumes, whole grains and tofu. One of three nutrients that supply calories to the body. See carbohydrates and fat.

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)

Recommendations for daily intake of specific nutrients for groups of healthy individuals. There is a specific recommendation for pregnant and lactating women. These recommendations are set by the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies.

Self (or home) blood glucose monitoring

A process by which blood sugars can be determined at home by pricking the finger, putting a drop of blood on a chemically treated test strip, and reading the levels of glucose in the blood.

Trimester

A period of three months. Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. The first trimester is 0-13 weeks gestation. The second trimester is 14-26 weeks gestation. And the third trimester is 27 weeks gestation until birth.

For more information, be sure to visit the NICHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development).