What is Move?

Hello and welcome to this edition of the Move newsletter.

Move is funded under the Australia Government's Local Community Campaigns which aims to address the prevalence of  chronic diseases affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Click here to read more about our local campaign. 

Did you know during pregnacy women need two or three times more insulin than normal? If the body can't produce this much insulin, gestational diabetes develops. If gestational diabetes is not well looked after it may result in pregnancy complications. 

Who's at risk?

There's no one reason why women develop gestational diabetes however you are at greater risk if: 

• There's a family history of type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes
• You are overweight or obese
• You are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
• You have previously had gestational diabetes
• You have previously had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• You have previously given birth to a large baby

Managing GD

There are 3 basis components to managing and treating gestational diabetes:

• Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels
• Adopting a healthy eating pattern; and
• Physical activity

Listen here to our interview with Michelle Gray who runs a fitness program for pregnant women in Brisbane. 

Being active is a good way to reduce your risk of chronic conditons like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease and some cancers. 

You should aim for moderate intensity physical activity such as brisk walking. 

Move spoke to Lesley McGeough, a physical activity health promotion officer at Kambu Medical Services in Ipswich.  Here she is explaining moderate intensity physical activity.

Diabetes affects your circulation which is why checking your feet is pretty important when managing the disease.

Podiatrist Clinto Abel says regular physical activity is a great way to improve blood flow to your feet.  Listen to the interview.

The Move project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.