Diabetes – Pregnancy and the Dangers of High Blood Glucose

There is no reason at all why a diabetic mother-to-be cannot enjoy a normal, full term pregnancy.

However, as a diabetic, either type 1 or type 2, the disease does add complications during pregnancy, placing extra responsibility on the potential parents, particularly the mother.

This is particularly true of any mother who contracts gestational diabetes. This is contracted, if at all, in the later stages, and can be very stressful.

Unlike type 1 and 2 diabetics who already know and understand their disease and what is involved as regards treatment, gestational diabetes comes with no warning and the mother has a whole new set of rules to abide by, including injecting themselves with insulin, and monitoring their blood sugar levels.

Left untreated, there are huge health risks to the unborn child when it comes to high blood sugar levels in the mother.

The best thing to do as a diabetic is to consult with your doctor before you conceive. The doctor can then give a medical check, and prepare you for any change in medication, specifically for oral medication to insulin injections.

This is because high blood sugar levels, left untreated and monitored, can cause miscarriages and congenital abnormalities. These abnormalities occur early in the pregnancy, 5-9 weeks. It is possible that they occur before the woman is aware that she is pregnant, so proper preparation and consultation is important.

High blood sugar levels can also cause what is called “macrosomia”. This happens in the second half of the pregnancy. High levels of sugar and other nutrients in the mother are passed to the baby, which in turn makes the baby’s pancreas start to produce insulin. By producing more insulin the sugars are absorbed into the body where they are stored as fat. The areas where fat is stored tend to be the arms, legs, abdomen and chest.

Because they are large, the often have to be delivered early, and because that means they are in effect, premature, they are not necessarily ready for delivery.

A moderate amount of exercise, gentle walking for example, is of benefit during pregnancy, as well as stopping smoking, which has been proved to increase the risk of the baby becoming obese and diabetic later in life.