A normal pregnancy to full term is a perfectly reasonable expectation for a diabetic mother.
Even so, diabetes, type 1 or type 2, does mean that the parents will have some extra responsibility to ensure potential complications do not arise.
This is particularly true of any mother who contracts gestational diabetes. This is contracted, if at all, in the later stages, and can be very stressful.
Unlike type 1 and 2 diabetics who already know and understand their disease and what is involved as regards treatment, gestational diabetes comes with no warning and the mother has a whole new set of rules to abide by, including injecting themselves with insulin, and monitoring their blood sugar levels.
The problem is gestational diabetes, just like type 1 or type 2 diabetes, is not just a health risk for the mother, it can affect the unborn child as well.
The best thing to do as a diabetic is to consult with your doctor before you conceive. The doctor can then give a medical check, and prepare you for any change in medication, specifically for oral medication to insulin injections.
This is because high blood sugar levels, left untreated and monitored, can cause miscarriages and congenital abnormalities. These abnormalities occur early in the pregnancy, 5-9 weeks. It is possible that they occur before the woman is aware that she is pregnant, so proper preparation and consultation is important.
High blood sugar levels can also cause what is called "macrosomia". This happens in the second half of the pregnancy. High levels of sugar and other nutrients in the mother are passed to the baby, which in turn makes the baby's pancreas start to produce insulin. By producing more insulin the sugars are absorbed into the body where they are stored as fat. The areas where fat is stored tend to be the arms, legs, abdomen and chest.
Macrosomia means that the baby gains wieght and size more quickly than normal, that often results in the necessity of an early delivery and a premature birth.
A moderate amount of exercise, gentle walking for example, is of benefit during pregnancy, as well as stopping smoking, which has been proved to increase the risk of the baby becoming obese and diabetic later in life.
Even so, diabetes, type 1 or type 2, does mean that the parents will have some extra responsibility to ensure potential complications do not arise.
This is particularly true of any mother who contracts gestational diabetes. This is contracted, if at all, in the later stages, and can be very stressful.
Unlike type 1 and 2 diabetics who already know and understand their disease and what is involved as regards treatment, gestational diabetes comes with no warning and the mother has a whole new set of rules to abide by, including injecting themselves with insulin, and monitoring their blood sugar levels.
The problem is gestational diabetes, just like type 1 or type 2 diabetes, is not just a health risk for the mother, it can affect the unborn child as well.
The best thing to do as a diabetic is to consult with your doctor before you conceive. The doctor can then give a medical check, and prepare you for any change in medication, specifically for oral medication to insulin injections.
This is because high blood sugar levels, left untreated and monitored, can cause miscarriages and congenital abnormalities. These abnormalities occur early in the pregnancy, 5-9 weeks. It is possible that they occur before the woman is aware that she is pregnant, so proper preparation and consultation is important.
High blood sugar levels can also cause what is called "macrosomia". This happens in the second half of the pregnancy. High levels of sugar and other nutrients in the mother are passed to the baby, which in turn makes the baby's pancreas start to produce insulin. By producing more insulin the sugars are absorbed into the body where they are stored as fat. The areas where fat is stored tend to be the arms, legs, abdomen and chest.
Macrosomia means that the baby gains wieght and size more quickly than normal, that often results in the necessity of an early delivery and a premature birth.
A moderate amount of exercise, gentle walking for example, is of benefit during pregnancy, as well as stopping smoking, which has been proved to increase the risk of the baby becoming obese and diabetic later in life.
About the Author:
Toby has been diabetic for a number of years now. To try and relieve his hypertension he likes to repair machinery, restoring old used air compressors. He has put up a website about used air compressors, where you can find useful information on this subject.
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