Gestational diabetes is being diagnosed at an alarming rate of 18% of all pregnancies in western Sydney, with Australians from an Indian sub-continent background being at higher risk.
To tackle these high rates, Western Sydney Diabetes (WSD) and community group Healthy Living Toongabbie (HLT) have created three educational videos in the Tamil language to help educate women on the risks.
Gestational diabetes leads not only to ill health for the mother but often leads to premature birth, excessive birth weight, infants who struggle with hypoglycaemia after birth and ongoing health issues for the child such as an increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Research over recent years has found that 'pre programming' of children's health conditions can occur before conception and during pregnancy, and is influencing new thinking in clinical practice for maternity care and the importance of a healthy diet for mothers prior to conception.
Watch the videos below:
Gestational Diabetes_Dr Titus from WesternSydney Diabetes on Vimeo.
Gestational Diabetes and Physical Activity from WesternSydney Diabetes on Vimeo.
Gestational Diabetes and Diet from WesternSydney Diabetes on Vimeo.