Pregnancy is a special time in a woman's life. There are many changes that occur, both physically and emotionally. One of the most important changes in the development of the baby. This process requires extra energy and nutrients, which can be supplied by the food a woman eats and her body stores.
How diabetes is dangerous for a pregnant woman?
If a woman has diabetes before she becomes pregnant, her condition is called pre-existing or chronic diabetes. Diabetes can cause serious health problems for both the mother and the baby. The high levels of sugar in the mother's blood can cross the placenta and enter the baby's bloodstream. This can lead to a condition called macrosomia, where the baby grows too large. Macrosomia can make delivery more difficult and put the baby at risk for injury during birth. The baby is also at risk for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) after birth and jaundice.
Diabetes can also cause pre-eclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby. Pre-eclampsia can lead to premature delivery, which can put the baby at risk for a number of health problems.
It is important for women with pre-existing diabetes to control their blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy. This can help to prevent or minimize the risks associated with the condition.
How diabetes is dangerous for your fetus?
If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels are too high. This can damage your nerves and blood vessels. It also increases your risk for heart disease and stroke. Having diabetes during pregnancy can harm your baby. High blood sugar levels during pregnancy can cause your baby to grow too large. This can lead to a birth defect called macrosomia. Macrosomia increases the risk for health problems for both you and your baby. These include a traumatic delivery, cesarean section, and shoulder dystocia.
Your baby could also develop jaundice, low blood sugar levels, and respiratory distress syndrome. These problems usually happen when the mother has diabetes that’s not well-controlled. If you have diabetes, work with your healthcare provider to keep your blood sugar levels under control before and during pregnancy. You can help lower your risk for type 2 diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and getting regular exercise.
If you’re thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about your risk for type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes and are planning to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how to best manage your diabetes before and during pregnancy.
What type of diabetes do you have?
Depending on the type of diabetes the consequences for the baby differ.
If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not make insulin. This means that you need to take insulin every day to control your blood sugar levels. You will need to work closely with a healthcare team before and during pregnancy to make sure your blood sugar levels are well-controlled.
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes can often be managed through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. In some cases, medication may also be needed to help control blood sugar levels. If you have type 2 diabetes and are planning to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how best to manage your diabetes before and during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy. It usually goes away after the baby is born. But if you have gestational diabetes, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes happens when your body can’t make enough insulin to handle the extra sugar in your blood during pregnancy. This can cause high blood sugar levels in both you and your baby. If you have gestational diabetes, you will need to closely monitor your blood sugar levels and work with a healthcare team before and during pregnancy. You may also need to take medication to help control your blood sugar levels.
Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare form of diabetes that is caused by a mutation in a single gene. MODY usually runs in families. If you have MODY, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. If you have MODY and are planning to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how best to manage your diabetes before and during pregnancy.
There is also neonatal diabetes, which is when a baby is born with diabetes. This can be temporary or permanent. If it’s permanent, the child will need treatment with insulin for life. A pregnant woman with diabetes can pass diabetes onto her baby. This is called transplacental transfer. The risks to the baby depend on how well controlled the mother’s blood sugar levels are before and during pregnancy.
Diabetes signs - how can you know this disease?
If you don`t know whether you have diabetes or not, here are some signs and symptoms:
- You feel very thirsty all the time: this sign is the first one, which appears when you have diabetes;
- You have to urinate frequently, especially at night;
- You feel very tired and you can’t concentrate;
- You lose weight without trying to do it;
- You have blurred vision.
- You feel very hungry all the time
- You feel tired all the time
- You have cuts or bruises that heal slowly
- You have dry, itchy skin
- You lose weight even though you are eating more (weight loss)
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, please contact your doctor! If you suffer from one or more of these diabetes signs, it is better to visit your doctor and make some tests. Don`t worry, nowadays there are many methods of treatment and you’ll definitely find the most suitable for you!
Can diabetic mother have normal delivery?
If you have diabetes, you may be at increased risk for complications during delivery. These include:
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that can occur during pregnancy. It is marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Pre-eclampsia can lead to serious problems for both the mother and the baby. If you have pre-eclampsia, you will need to be closely monitored during pregnancy and delivery. You may also need to deliver early.
Shoulder dystocia is when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck during delivery. This can happen if the baby is large (macrosomic). Shoulder dystocia can cause serious problems for both the mother and the baby, including broken bones, nerve damage, and lack of oxygen for the baby.
If you have diabetes, you are also at increased risk for:
C-section delivery: If you have diabetes, you may be more likely to need a C-section delivery. This is because diabetes can increase the risk for complications during vaginal delivery, such as shoulder dystocia.
Postpartum hemorrhage: This is when a woman loses too much blood after delivery. It can happen if the placenta does not detach from the uterus properly or if there is an uterine rupture.
Infection: Diabetes can increase the risk for infection both in the mother and the baby.
It’s important to work with your healthcare team to manage your diabetes before and during pregnancy. This will help minimize the risks to both you and your baby.
Can diabetes cause miscarriage or infertility?
Miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends before 20 weeks. Infertility is when a couple cannot get pregnant after one year of trying. Diabetes can increase the risk for both miscarriage and infertility. There are several reasons why diabetes may increase the risk for miscarriage:
High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the placenta. This can lead to placental insufficiency, which is when the placenta does not get enough blood. Placental insufficiency can cause the baby to grow slowly and can lead to miscarriage. High blood sugar levels can also damage the eggs or sperm. This can lead to genetic abnormalities in the developing baby, which can cause miscarriage.
If you have diabetes, you may be at increased risk for complications during pregnancy. These include preeclampsia, shoulder dystocia, and c-section delivery. These conditions can lead to miscarriage.
Diabetes can also cause infertility. This is because high blood sugar levels can damage the eggs or sperm. This can lead to genetic abnormalities in the developing baby, which can cause miscarriage. Diabetes can also damage the blood vessels in the ovaries, which can lead to ovarian insufficiency. Ovarian insufficiency is when the ovaries do not produce enough eggs. This can cause infertility.
If you have diabetes and are trying to get pregnant, it’s important to work with your healthcare team to manage your diabetes. This will help minimize the risks to both you and your baby.
Can a woman with diabetes have a healthy baby?
Pregnant women with diabetes can have healthy pregnancies and babies if they:
- Work closely with their healthcare team before and during pregnancy
- Monitor their blood sugar levels
- Eat a balanced diet
- Get regular exercise
If you have diabetes and are thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about your risks. They can help you manage your diabetes before and during pregnancy.
How to cure diabetes during pregnancy?
If you have diabetes, you need to take steps to control your blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy. This will help minimize the risks to both you and your baby.
Your healthcare provider may recommend:
- Taking insulin
- Checking your blood sugar levels regularly
- Eating a balanced diet
- Getting regular exercise
You may also need to see a specialist, such as an endocrinologist or a perinatologist, during your pregnancy. A perinatologist is an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to manage your diabetes before and during pregnancy. With proper treatment and care, you can have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Eat balanced and healthy food
One of the most important things you can do to control your blood sugar levels is to eat a balanced and healthy diet. This means eating foods that are low in saturated and trans fats, and high in fiber. Good sources of fiber include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans.
You should also limit sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit juice. And avoid processed foods, such as white bread and pasta. These foods can cause your blood sugar levels to rise quickly.
Get regular exercise
Exercise can help you control your blood sugar levels. It also helps you lose weight if you need to. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week. Moderate-intensity activities include walking, swimming, and biking.
If you have diabetes, you may need to take insulin to control your blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. Your healthcare provider will prescribe the type and amount of insulin you need based on your blood sugar levels. You will also need to check your blood sugar levels regularly during pregnancy. This can help you and your healthcare team sees how well your diabetes is controlled.
Track your stress level and get enough sleep
Pregnancy can be a stressful time. Stress can raise your blood sugar levels. So it’s important to find ways to manage your stress during pregnancy. Getting enough sleep is also important. Lack of sleep can raise your blood sugar levels. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
Take your medicine as prescribed. If you have diabetes, you may need to take insulin or other medicines to control your blood sugar levels during pregnancy. It’s important to take your medicines as prescribed and to check your blood sugar levels regularly.
Your healthcare team will also closely monitor your pregnancy. You may need to have more frequent prenatal visits and ultrasounds. This is because diabetes can increase the risk for complications during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and shoulder dystocia. With proper treatment and care, you can have a healthy pregnancy and baby.