Will blood sugar levels drop immediately after giving birth?
Generally speaking, whether blood sugar levels drop immediately after childbirth mainly depends on the specific cause of elevated blood sugar during pregnancy. If the pregnant woman has gestational diabetes, her blood sugar levels may decrease after delivery. However, if the woman had already been diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy, blood sugar levels typically won't drop immediately. If experiencing any discomfort, prompt medical attention is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:
If the pregnant woman develops diabetes during pregnancy, i.e., gestational diabetes, her blood sugar levels may return to normal relatively quickly after childbirth, as the body gradually returns to its normal state and insulin secretion and insulin resistance gradually return to normal.
However, if a woman had diabetes before pregnancy, her blood sugar levels usually won't drop immediately after childbirth, because diabetes is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management, long-term glucose-lowering treatment, and adjustments to diet and lifestyle.
In daily life, attention should be paid to dietary adjustments, maintaining a diet low in sugar and fat and high in fiber, while appropriately increasing physical activity to help control blood sugar levels.