Diabetic women are no longer discouraged from becoming pregnant due to modern advances in controlling the condition, explains the American Diabetes Association. Monitoring blood sugar levels (blood glucose) can help a woman maintain ideal ranges and limit the risk it can have on the baby's health and her own. Women can develop diabetes during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, but proper diet and exercise can minimize the risk of developing this condition. Symptoms of diabetes in pregnancy are similar to those when a woman is not pregnant but there is the risk of preterm labor or other serious pregnancy complications.
Unusual Thirst
Gestational diabetes and both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause a pregnant woman to experience excessive thirst. She may feel as if nothing can quench her thirst or she may need to drink fluids often throughout the day.
Frequent Urination
Diabetes can increase a woman's need to urinate. This can be hard to differentiate from diabetes and the normal changes women experience during pregnancy. All three types of diabetes can cause a woman to have frequent urges to urinate. Sometimes the volume of urine is small despite the urge, explains the American Diabetes Association.
Nausea
The American Pregnancy Association points out that pregnant women may experience nausea with gestational diabetes. This too can be confused with morning sickness symptoms.
Frequent Infections
Gestational and Type 2 diabetes can cause frequent secondary infections. The American Pregnancy Association suggests bladder, vaginal and skin infections are all potential symptoms of diabetes during pregnancy. Other similar infection-type symptoms include gum infection and slow healing cuts or bruises.
Vision Blurring
Type 2 and gestational diabetes can cause blurred vision. This can include double vision or difficulty seeing clearly.
Behavioral Symptoms
Extreme fatigue and irritability are symptoms shared by all three types of diabetes. These symptoms are quite similar to regular behavioral changes associated with pregnancy. Fatigue usually resolves somewhat during the second trimester of pregnancy. Tiredness that persists throughout pregnancy may be an indication of gestational diabetes or it can be a complication of existing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
