About 1 in 100 women of childbearing age has diabetes before becoming pregnant, and most can have successful pregnancies and healthy babies, the March of Dimes says. However, if you're diabetic, you face special challenges to avoid complications with the pregnancy. According to the American Diabetes Association, your diabetes automatically makes your pregnancy "high-risk," and you should take steps to prevent pregnancy problems not just before birth, but before conception.
Diabetes Basics
In people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin, meaning that the body cannot convert blood sugar into energy. Patients must control the disease with diet, exercise and daily insulin shots. In type 2 diabetes, either insufficient insulin is produced or the body cannot use it for energy. These patients can often control their diabetes with diet and exercise. Sometimes women develop "gestational diabetes" during pregnancy, or a condition where their bodies become unable to use insulin properly. That form of the disease usually goes away after the baby is born, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Risks to the Baby
The list of potential pregnancy risks if you are diabetic is long and sobering; however, bear in mind that they are most serious when women don't have their diabetes under control. Potential problems for the baby include increased risks for birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and complications, such as breathing problems at birth. There's also greater risk for an extra-large baby of 10 pounds or more, which complicates delivery.
Risks to the Mother
According to the March of Dimes, risks for women with poorly controlled diabetes include pre-eclampsia, marked by high blood pressure and other symptoms; too much amniotic fluid, which can increase the likelihood of early labor and delivery; and the need for a Cesarean delivery, which is often advised when the baby has grown too large.
Control is Key
Before you even try to get pregnant, your first priority should be getting your diabetes under control, the American Diabetes Association urges. Set up appointments with your gynecologist and an endocrinologist to discuss your overall health. Your doctor probably will advise you to maintain your average blood glucose level below 7 percent, and to exercise and lose weight if you are overweight. The ADA says your doctor may also urge other precautions, including stopping smoking, taking a folic acid supplement, eliminating your alcohol intake, exercising more and avoiding certain foods that could pose problems, such as raw fish.
Other Precautions
During pregnancy, plan on seeing your doctor more frequently than other women do, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises, as careful medical observation can help detect any problems early. It will be crucial to monitor your blood sugar levels more often, perhaps up to eight times a day, and to take insulin or any other medications on schedule. Strict control measures might lead to low blood sugar at times, so you'll need to have a carbohydrate source handy at all times, the CDC notes. Finally, follow your doctor's orders on diet and exercise as you prepare to have a healthy baby.
