If you have diabetes before you become pregnant, your pregnancy is considered high-risk, which means that both you and your developing baby are at risk for complications caused by diabetes. That’s why, if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and are planning to get pregnant, you should meet with your doctor to discuss the potential risks and what you can do to minimize them.
Potential Complications of Diabetes during Pregnancy
During the first 8 weeks of development, the fetus’s internal organs, including brain, heart, kidneys and lungs begin to form. Poorly-controlled blood sugar levels can damage the developing organs and cause serious birth defects.
If your diabetes is not well-controlled, you are also at higher risk for miscarriage (loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks) or stillbirth (loss of pregnancy after 20 weeks).
High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can lead to an “oversized” baby. If the baby grows too large, you might need a C-section to deliver your baby, which takes longer to recover from than a vaginal delivery.
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, in the mother can lead to low blood sugar in the baby shortly after birth.
Women with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure, which can cause preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious problem that can lead to seizures or stroke in the mother during labor and delivery or preterm birth of the baby (delivering too early). Babies born too early may suffer any number of complications from immature organ development.
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy in Women with Diabetes
- Meet with your doctor before you become pregnant. During preconception counseling, your doctor will check your blood sugar levels and assess if your diabetes is controlled enough to stop your birth control and begin trying to conceive. Your doctor will evaluate your weight and, if you are overweight, he or she will recommend that you lose weight to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and to get your blood sugar under control.
- Begin taking a daily prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid.
- Get your urine tested for diabetic kidney complications.
- Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked.
- Get an eye exam to screen for glaucoma, cataracts and retinopathy.
- If you smoke or drink alcohol, you should stop these detrimental behaviors prior to becoming pregnant. Smoking and excessive drinking while pregnant can cause serious damage to a developing fetus.
- Once you become pregnant, you will need to check your blood sugar levels more often than you did before you were pregnant. Your changing hormone levels can affect your body’s energy needs and glucose levels.
- To keep your blood sugar under control, be sure to take your insulin and/or medications as directed. Your doctor may change your medications during your pregnancy. Your body typically requires more insulin during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester (13 weeks). If you take oral medications to control your diabetes, your doctor may instead switch you to insulin, since certain oral medications could harm the fetus.
- Throughout your pregnancy, you should exercise regularly, work with a dietician to create and follow a healthy meal plan and treat low blood sugar levels quickly.
To prevent complications during your pregnancy, you will want to ensure that your diabetes is under control before you get pregnant and throughout your pregnancy. Following these recommendations and your doctor’s directions will help prevent problems and increase the chances for a healthy baby and worry-free delivery.
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