More than 34
million Americans
have diabetes. In this condition, the body
cannot control its blood sugar levels adequately, either due to
insufficient insulin production or a resistance to normal amounts of
insulin. Diabetes affects individuals of all ages, including women in
their childbearing years who face potential pregnancy complications.
Whether you plan on getting pregnant or
have already embarked on your pregnancy, you need to understand the
relationship between diabetes and prenatal health. Take heed of the
following four key considerations so that you can plan the healthiest
pregnancy possible, both for you and for your unborn child.
1. Uncontrolled Pre-Gestational
Diabetes Poses Risks
If you already had diabetes before you
became pregnant, you need to make sure that you have the condition as
firmly under control as possible during your pregnancy. Diabetic
women have a higher risk than nondiabetic women of passing
birth defects
to their babies. These birth defects may affect the
spine, brain, or heart.
Fortunately, you can still have a
healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby through careful control
and monitoring of your blood sugar levels throughout your pregnancy.
Your doctor will watch your condition carefully, show you how to test
your blood sugar levels, and prescribe any necessary treatment to
keep you in the safe zone.
2. Pregnancy Can Trigger Diabetes in
Healthy Women
Even if you have no personal or family
history of diabetes, you may develop the condition once you become
pregnant. Gestational diabetes affects seven
out every 100
expectant mothers. In these cases, the body usually
starts losing control over blood sugar levels later in pregnancy,
after the fetus has already formed.
Women with gestational diabetes do not
have as high a risk for birth defects as those with pre-gestational
diabetes. However, the condition can still cause problems. Excess
glucose in the placenta can cause a baby to grow unusually large, an
issue called macrosomia. Macrosomia may require you to undergo a
Cesarean section.
Gestational diabetes can present babies
with certain health challenges. Your child may struggle with low
blood sugar or breathing problems while running elevated risks for
obesity and diabetes later in life. Your doctor will check for
gestational diabetes in your second trimester and help you manage
your blood sugar accordingly.
3. Smart Self-Care Can Go a Long Way
Toward a Healthier Pregnancy
If you have pre-gestational or
gestational diabetes, you may or may not require medications such as
insulin to control your condition. Your doctor may recommend numerous
self-care strategies that can either accomplish this goal or allow
you to take less medication during your pregnancy.
A low-carbohydrate diet designed to
provide balanced nutrition for diabetics can help you get much-needed
nutrients without spiking your blood sugar. Exercise can also help
you maintain more normal blood sugar levels. Ask your doctor for a
safe, low-stress prenatal exercise plan.
If you already take insulin for
diabetes, you will most likely need to continue your usual medication
regimen. However, some insulin users may have to switch from the use
of an insulin pump to injected insulin during pregnancy.
4. Labor and Delivery May Require
Some Extra Care
No matter how strictly and successfully
you have controlled your blood sugar throughout your pregnancy, you
may still face some special considerations once the date of birth
arrives. For instance, if you consume a diet designed to accommodate
your condition, you need to make sure that the hospital feeds you
accordingly.
Your insulin levels may fluctuate
during labor. Diabetic women in labor typically have their blood
sugar measured constantly throughout the process, possibly as often
as once per hour. You may need to receive intravenous insulin during
this time. If your baby has low blood sugar at birth, the baby may
receive insulin as well.
If you want to enjoy a safe, healthy
pregnancy despite your diabetes concerns, Jack G. Faup M.D. can help. Contact
our
clinic today to learn more and set up an appointment.
