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Pregnancy and DiabetesPregnancy and diabetes presents unique challenges to both the management of the disease and the birth of a healthy baby. However, while many women worry that being diabetic means they are unable to have children, many diabetic women have safe pregnancies that result in a healthy baby and healthy mother. In other words, diabtes is not an absolute contraindication to getting pregnant and having children. However, there are some real risks associated with pregnancy and diabetes that prospective mothers should consider and address prior to getting pregnant. Many of these risks can be minimized if close detail is paid to the mother's health throughout pregnancy. Important: Consult a doctor if you are concerned about getting pregnant with diabetes to learn more about your own specific risks and the appropriateness of getting pregnant. The following is just general information about pregnancy with diabetes. Talk to your own physician about the specifics of your own health, the safety of getting pregnant with diabetes and your management of diabetes during pregnancy.
Be Well Armed and Get Lots of Support One of the most important things to do before tackling pregnancy and diabetes is to educate yourself (which you are obviously already starting to do) and get support. Pregnancy alone can be a challenging and stressful time. Being educated and having support, both personal as well as medical, goes a long way to helping to have a healthy pregnancy. This is never more true than when diabetes is in the picture. As early as possible, try to educate yourself and to ally yourself with advocates who can support you along the process. Friends and family can be helpful emotionally, but having a doctor or doctors working closely with you to both follow your pregnancy and manage your diabetes are critical. This is important both to initiate care that helps to foresee and prevent any problems as well as to provide immediate support should any concerns or problems arise. Pregnant women with diabetes are often recommended to start seeing an obstetrician (particularly one who specializes in "high risk" pregnancies), an eye specialist and a pediatrician early, in addition to being followed by your usual endocrinologist or internal medicine doctor.
Why Tight Control of Blood Sugar Is Important During pregnancy there are several changes in the mothers body, including weight gain and hormonal change, that can contribute to rising blood glucose levels. What may have worked to control blood glucose levels before pregnancy may not work as well and will need adjustment. Being monitored closely by a physician who knows you and your health well can help to make modifications to your diabetes treatment that help to deal with these changes that occur in pregnancy. This tight control of blood glucose is important for several reasons in pregnancy and diabetes. It is important for the health of both the mother and the baby. Good blood sugar control helps reduce risk of miscarraige and preterm birth, reduces the risk of birth defects, reduces the risk of excess growth of the baby, and reduces the risk for several other potential complications for both the mother and baby.
Checklist of Actions to Take for Pregnant Women
What is Gestational Diabetes? Some women who do not have a diagnosis of diabetes previously may develop problems with blood glucose control during pregnancy. This is termed gestational diabetes. Even if they need management during pregnancy, many mothers will return to normal glucose control after childbirth. However, a history of gestational diabetes may increase a woman's risk for the future development of adult-onset diabetes (Type II Diabetes) later in life.
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