Diabetes During Pregnancy: What Are The Risks to The Baby?
If a baby is born to a mother with diabetes, it’s very likely that the baby is at risk for problems. Generally, people having diabetes tend to have high levels of sugar in the blood, and this eventually leads to health issues. Ensure your blood sugar is controlled as this will lower the risk of further complications. Diabetes can be controlled by eating healthy small portions of food. But what’s even more important, is exercising while you’re on your medicines.
During pregnancy, there are two kinds of diabetes that can occur:
- Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is developed during pregnancy, not before. Once you have delivered, the diabetes goes away.
- Pregestational diabetes
Pregestational diabetes is when diabetes is developed before pregnancy. It could be type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- Individuals with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin, and the body requires insulin to use blood sugar, which is why insulin shots will have to be taken.
- Individuals with type 2 diabetes cannot use the insulin their bodies produce, because their bodies don’t make sufficient insulin. In this case, medication will be given to lower the blood sugar and insulin.
Ensure your blood sugar is under control during pregnancy; this will be beneficial for the baby’s health.
How is the baby at risk?
In a pregnant woman, nutrients and water are provided to the baby through the placenta. It is also responsible for the production of hormones a woman requires for a healthy pregnancy. Certain hormones can block insulin. When the placenta begins to grow, more hormones are produced. In such a case, the pancreas has to make more insulin. Gestational diabetes happens when the pancreas is not able to make enough insulin. Pregnancy tends to change the insulin requirements of a woman with diabetes. If you have type 1 diabetes, it is likely that you will need more insulin. If it’s type 2 diabetes, you will have to start using insulin.
If you have diabetes, your baby’s health is at risk. These problems can crop up during pregnancy and after birth – and this is particularly the case when the blood sugar is not under control.
How is it diagnosed?
Ankura’s healthcare specialists will check you for diabetes during pregnancy. If your weight is on the higher side, the doctor will check you in the initial stages of being pregnant – this will be done in your first checkup. The healthcare specialists will screen you for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th week of being pregnant. It is carried out with the help of an oral glucose tolerance test.
Treatment for pregnant women with diabetes
Throughout pregnancy, your doctor will keep a track of you and your baby. Doctors will take special care of to-be mothers with diabetes. We advise you to control your diabetes, more than anything as this is the easiest way to keep your baby safe. You can follow the steps below to manage your diabetes:
- Keep tabs on your blood sugar levels; you could test your blood sugar at home as well.
- Insulin must be taken as prescribed by the doctor.
- Make sure you’re not putting on too much weight. Your doctor will advise you to lose weight if necessary.
As long as your blood sugar is under control, your baby should be fine. Treatment will be based on the child’s symptoms and age. After labor, the doctor will check your baby on a regular basis for diabetes, because an early diagnosis can rule out the chances of health issues in the child.
