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Diabetes Is Not So Sweet
Diabetes During Pregnancy
By Crystal Patriarche
A diabetic pregnancy can be both scary and complicated. Advances in the management of diabetes, through diet and persistent monitoring of blood sugar levels, have greatly reduced the risks involved. Whether the diabetes is pre-existing or gestational (developed during pregnancy), there are steps you can take to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby.
According to the March of Dimes, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality, diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does not utilize insulin properly. Insulin is an important hormone that allows sugar to enter cells where it can be turned into energy.
In both cases of pre-existing and gestational diabetes, it is crucial to control blood sugar levels in order to reduce any potential risks to the mother or baby, says Dr. Elisabeth Evans, an OB/GYN at Overlake Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chief of Staff at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Wash.
Pregnant women with diabetes will need to aggressively monitor blood sugar levels, testing their blood several times a day, and if blood sugar levels remain too high, insulin may be needed.
"If a woman is already diabetic and on insulin, she should schedule a pre-pregnancy visit with her OB/GYN," Dr. Evans says. "Glucose levels should be under good control prior to conception. Early control will reduce the risks of congenital anomalies."
In addition to the increased risk of birth defects, diabetic pregnant women are also at higher risk of needing a C-section, delivering larger babies or premature babies and developing hypertension, according to Mimi Ellis, a certified physician assistant and registered dietician in Chandler, Ariz., working in obstetrics and gynecology.
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