Pregnant With Type 2 Diabetes? Follow These Simple Precautions!

Diabetes is a common health condition around the world. Less active lifestyles and diets high in processed food have helped drive up type 2 diabetes rates.

Millions of American women live with diabetes, and many are diagnosed during their childbearing years. Common risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

• Family history
• Overweight or obesity
• Physical inactivity
• A past history of gestational diabetes

What Is Diabetes?

In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t respond to insulin well and may not make enough of it. Glucose then builds up in the blood.

Over time, high blood glucose can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.

Pregnancy among Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Women with type 2 diabetes going through pregnancy are able to deliver and maintain a healthy child thanks to the wonders of modern technology. With the right medical treatment and proper self-care, you will be able to have a successful pregnancy and bear a healthy child.

If you want to get pregnant, plan ahead with your doctor. The NIDDK advises getting your blood glucose close to your target range before conception; for most people, that means an A1C of 6.5% or lower just before pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes is a different condition that starts during pregnancy. Women who already have type 2 diabetes need extra planning and monitoring from the start.

Effect of Diabetes on Fetus throughout Pregnancy

If you have type 2 diabetes, the blood sugar in your body is more than normal. You need to make sure that your blood sugar is managed and, if you have nerve damage, that you are getting proper diabetic neuropathy treatment to keep everything under control.

The baby’s organs form in the first 8 weeks, often before you know you’re pregnant. High blood glucose can raise the risk of:

• Birth defects
• Miscarriage or stillbirth
• Being born early
• A very large baby
• Breathing problems and low blood glucose in the baby after birth

Pregnant moms with diabetes need more frequent checkups. Your care team may include an obstetrician, a diabetes specialist and a registered dietitian.

Steps to Control Diabetes before Conception and During Pregnancy

Before conceiving a child, it is important to control your sugar and get in shape for your personal safety. Here are a few steps to control diabetes and the damage it can cause during pregnancy. Always follow the plan your own care team gives you:

Start by Changing Your Diet

• Your diet should be a healthy blend of unprocessed carbs, lean protein, and unsaturated fats for energy. Reduce the intake of sugary items like processed fast food and junk food items – not to mention eating fewer amounts of extra sugary fruits like grapes and mangoes.
• Carbohydrate consumption can actually increase your sugar levels. You need to talk to your doctor about the number of carbs as well as the type of carbs you should be eating. Since bread, fruits, legumes, and nuts all comprise carbohydrates; your doctor will be able to suggest the desired quantity. Even if you are not pregnant, simply going through treatment for peripheral neuropathy requires you to take care of your carb consumption and seek medical treatment.
• Make sure that you are adding healthier snack items instead of the regular cravings for junk food. Even mothers with a normal pregnancy are suggested to opt for smart snack items as it reduces their chances of developing gestational diabetes and even type 2 diabetes in the future.
• Instead of skipping meals, plan your meals so your blood sugar stays steady. Many women with diabetes do well with regular meals and snacks spread through the day; a dietitian can tailor the plan. Ask your doctor about folic acid and any other supplements you need.

Get Necessary Weight

• Women who are overweight or obese have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes. If you are planning a pregnancy, ask your doctor whether reaching a healthier weight first makes sense for you.
• Do not try to lose weight during pregnancy. Some weight gain is healthy and expected; ask your health care professional how much is right for you.
• Babies of mothers with diabetes are more likely to be large and may have a higher risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes later in life, which is another reason good glucose control matters.

Regular Exercise

• The NIDDK suggests aiming for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, plus strength training twice a week, if your care team agrees it’s safe for you.
• Inform your doctor about the diet and medicines you are taking. Your doctor will also guide you about the exercises along with their intensity that can be performed.
• Moderate cardiovascular exercises, light weight lifting, and brisk walking can be quite beneficial.
• Ask whether you need a snack before exercise, and keep a fast-acting source of sugar with you in case your glucose drops. Don’t change your insulin dose on your own; your care team can tell you how to adjust for exercise.

Rest Enough

• While getting diabetic neuropathy treatment, getting adequate amounts of rest is extremely important. As your pregnancy progresses, ask your care team which activities are still safe; many women shift toward lower-impact options like walking, swimming or prenatal yoga.

Take Regular Medicine

• Insulin is the usual diabetes treatment during pregnancy. Your doctor may switch you from other diabetes medicines to ones that are safe in pregnancy, and insulin needs often rise as pregnancy goes on.
• Some other medicines, including some used for nerve pain or treatment for peripheral neuropathy, may need to be changed before or during pregnancy, so review every prescription with your doctor.
• Don’t self-medicate. Tell your care team about every medicine and supplement you take, including over-the-counter products, before you use them.
• Check your blood glucose as often as your team advises and keep a log. Commonly recommended pregnancy targets are 70 to 95 mg/dL fasting and before meals, 110 to 140 mg/dL one hour after eating, or 100 to 120 mg/dL two hours after eating. Your team may set different targets.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a common problem among people of America. There are a lot of complications that women suffering from type 2 diabetes can endure while going through pregnancy. If you have diabetes and hope to conceive, planning ahead with your doctor gives you and your baby the best chance of a healthy pregnancy. Eat well, stay active, rest, and keep every prenatal appointment.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Your own care team should set your glucose targets, medicines and activity plan.

Sources

• Pregnancy if You Have Diabetes, NIDDK
• About Folic Acid, CDC