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Diabetes & Pregnancy Home:
Planning to get pregnant? Read this FIRST Women with diabetes who are considering pregnancy are strongly urged to achieve excellent blood glucose control before conception. That's because hyperglycemia can increase the risk of a miscarriage or of birth defects in the baby. When women have maintained strict blood glucose control prior to conceiving and during the first trimester, the incidence of malformations is much lower than in women with diabetes who did not. If you are planning to start your family, it is critically important that you discuss your decision with your healthcare provider and members of your diabetes care team right away. You will also want to choose an obstetrician who is familiar with the special challenges of a diabetic pregnancy. Your
physician will want to conduct a thorough physical exam to determine just what
effects your diabetes has had on your body up to now and to assess your body's
readiness to take on the demands of pregnancy. Some of the common complications
of diabetes can be affected by pregnancy, or can affect its outcome. In
particular:
Aim for near-normal glucose levels The
most essential thing you must do is to get your blood glucose levels as close to
normal as possible -- ideally for three months before you become pregnant. Even
more important is to maintain them at that level for at least the critical first
three months of pregnancy. That is when the baby is developing rapidly and the
time during which congenital malformations can occur if glucose levels are high.
Studies have shown that when the
HbA1c level is within 1% of normal, the rates of congenital deformities and
spontaneous abortion are no different from those in women without diabetes.
Above that, however, the incidence rises.
You'll need to monitor your glucose
levels frequently - it is not unusual for pregnant women to perform
self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) 6 to 8 times a day. The ADA recommends
these goals for blood glucose control during pregnancy:
Goals for self-monitored glucose When tested Whole blood glucose reading
Plasma glucose reading
Before meals 70-100 mg/dl (3.9 - 5.6 mmol/l) 80-110 mg/dl (4.4-6.1 mmol/l)
2 hours after meals Under 140 mg/dl (<7.8 mmol/l)
Under 155 mg/dl (<8.6 mmol/l)
The type of diabetes treatment
program that aims to normalize glucose levels is sometimes referred to as "tight
control," meaning that you must stick to a strict self-management plan. This
will include:
Your doctor will order HbA1c tests at
1- to 2-month intervals until your blood glucose levels are stable.
Your doctor will advise when you can
stop contraception and go ahead and proceed with trying to become pregnant. If
you haven't been able to attain the desired levels, your doctor will advise you
on the risks of getting pregnant with high glucose levels. Then you should
discuss the risks of proceeding with a pregnancy with your doctor and with each
other.
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As the world’s top supplier of commercial blood pressure monitors and health management systems, Lifeclinic is committed to helping to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals across the globe. Active monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, weight, body fat, body mass index (BMI) and blood oxygen levels when combined with proper diet, nutrition and physical fitness can help ensure a longer, more healthy lifestyle. © 2009 Lifeclinic International, Inc. |
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Preconception planning |
