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Expert Q&A
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| By Aneema Van Groenou, M.D. General Medicine | ||
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What's the best way to control diabetes during pregnancy?
Maternal blood sugars can be controlled best by a combination of multiple daily insulin injections and dietary adjustment. Most women with either pre-pregnancy or gestational diabetes require a combination of short and intermediate-acting insulin in the morning and evening. Women who have used hypoglycemic medications cannot continue them during pregnancy, as these drugs affect the fetus. Also, women with mild gestational diabetes may be able to control their sugars with diet changes only.
Most importantly, women with diabetes should make their regular doctor's office visits a priority. Frequent phone contact with a diabetic nurse is also crucial to keep track of daily blood sugar measurements and make adjustments to the insulin regimen. In rare cases, if blood sugar is still not well controlled, a hospital stay may be necessary to stabilize sugars.
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