Question

When developing a plan of care for a client newly diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which of the following instructions would be the priority?

1) Dietary intake
2) Medication
3) Exercise
4) Glucose monitoring.

Answer 1

The priority when developing a care plan for gestational diabetes is glucose monitoring, which informs about blood sugar levels and guides dietary and exercise plans, with medication as a possible subsequent intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

When developing a care plan for a client with gestational diabetes, the priority should be glucose monitoring. This is essential because it provides immediate feedback on blood sugar levels, which can inform subsequent decisions regarding diet, exercise, and medication. While dietary intake and exercise are also vital components for managing gestational diabetes, they are generally informed by glucose monitoring results. Medication may be necessary if lifestyle modifications are not sufficient in controlling blood glucose levels, but this is usually a subsequent step after assessing the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions.

Managing gestational diabetes effectively is critical for the health of both mother and baby. It involves regular blood glucose testing, making healthy dietary choices, engaging in appropriate physical activity, and potentially taking medication, such as insulin, when lifestyle changes alone are not enough to maintain blood glucose within the target range.