Creating life is probably one of the most exciting (and scary) things a person can experience. However, for women with diabetes, this excitement can be sucked away by the tedious task of dealing with diabetes. While I understand that having to fret over your blood sugar sure makes the whole journey less exciting, there is luckily a way to have a healthy pregnancy with diabetes, insulin shots included.
Risk of diabetes during pregnancy
Regulating blood sugar levels is important for a person with diabetes. It becomes even more important during pregnancy because volatile blood sugar can cause serious risks during pregnancy.
Birth Defects
The first two months of pregnancy are important in the development of virtually everything critical in the body: the organs, the brain, and the spine. A spike in blood sugar or a dangerous low can affect the development of the tissue during this development, especially in the brain and heart.
Large Baby
If blood sugar remains frequently elevated during the pregnancy, the baby could consume that sugar during his development. This could result in an oversized and virtually obese baby, which places a strain both on the mother and the baby.
Likely C-Section
An oversized baby can make giving birth nearly impossible, as it simply cannot pass through the birthing canal. This could necessitate a cesarean section in order to successfully—and safely—give birth.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is the result of high blood pressure throughout the pregnancy, which is much more likely to occur in women with diabetes. Some signs to look out for include excessively swollen fingers and toes that won’t go away. This condition can seriously harm the baby and cause early labor. It can also lead to seriously scary risks for the mother such as blood clots or bleeding in the brain.
Preterm Birth
Many of these risks consequently increase the likely of a preterm birth. A preterm birth can cause problems for the baby, as some organs may not be completely developed. Breathing, heart, intestinal, and vision problems are more likely to occur with preterm birth.
Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar is a natural risk in people with diabetes that needs to be avoided during pregancy. It can cause serious risk of fatality for both the mother and child. It is especially dangerous for the baby close to birth as the baby’s blood sugar can drop dangerously low once outside of the mother’s body.
Miscarriage / Stillbirth
While diabetes won’t directly cause a miscarriage or stillbirth, it can obviously increase the risk of many complications, all of which could ultimately lead to the death of the baby.
5 tips for a healthy pregnancy
To avoid those scary risks listed above, here are five easy ways to keep your diabetes under control during your pregnancy.
Eat Healthy
Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet will help prevent volatile blood levels.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise is an excellent way to keep blood sugar levels under control and to maintain a healthy heart.
Visit Doctor Regularly
Now, more than ever, it is important that you and your doctor work together to make sure that your blood sugar levels are within a healthy range. Make regular appointments and keep open communication so that you can catch problems early on and prevent complications.
Take Your Insulin
Talk to your doctor about your medication and take it as directed throughout the pregnancy to prevent complications.
Control Blood Sugar
Just like always, keep blood sugar under control! Don’t let it spike or drop suddenly and monitor it often to prevent this from happening.
While congratulations are obviously in order, it is also important to recognize that this pregnancy requires some serious attention. While this can be a daunting task, it is not unlike the careful steps you have taken all your life already! So gear up and grow that healthy baby so that you can both enjoy a nice, beautiful life together.
[expand title=”References“]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. URL Link. Accessed February 2, 2017.[/expand]
