The current level of medicine allows a woman with full control of diabetes to carry out pregnancy planning and bear, give birth to children. But it is important to know that it is necessary to frequently check the amount of sugar in the blood, to eat right and to monitor the metered loads in order to better control your condition. According to obstetricians, women with diabetes are more prone to a healthy pregnancy, they carefully prepare for it before conception. They strictly control the diet and their weight, follow all the recommendations of the doctor and are constantly monitored, pass all tests and take all prescribed drugs.
Pregnancy with the disease
If the general state of health is unsatisfactory and the concentration of sugar in the blood fluctuates continuously, with the occurrence of pregnancy, the expectant mother may face serious complications. These may include high blood pressure (a dangerous condition, also known as pre-eclampsia), the need for emergency cesarean section due to the weight of the child, the risk of intrauterine infections and worsening of the general condition. In pregnancy, diabetes increases the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
Continuous monitoring of blood sugar is extremely important from the very beginning of gestation, because the baby’s organs form in the first weeks of pregnancy, when a woman may not yet be aware of her condition. Doctors claim that amid diabetes Unplanned pregnancy can be problematic, but early registration can solve most of the difficulties. It will be important to review the nutrition, conduct a full examination and adjust the treatment. The ideal option would be to visit the doctor and carefully plan the baby.
Blood Sugar Control: Basics
If a woman turns to the doctor, informing him of her intentions regarding the birth of the baby, the doctor should help her in planning pregnancy, having developed a whole scheme of preventive measures, surveys and recommendations. The first thing you need is control over blood sugar levels. It will be recommended to frequently check the level of glucose at the stage of preparation for conception, plus it is recommended to reach a certain level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) before becoming pregnant. This will guarantee that blood sugar is close to normal at conception and in the first weeks of gestation.
Recommendations for maintaining blood sugar before conception usually range from 3.9 to 6.7 mmol / l before a meal, 7.8 mmol / l two hours after a meal.
During pregnancy, optimal blood sugar levels range from 3.3 to 5.0 mmol / l after waking up on an empty stomach, below 6.0 mmol / l before lunch, dinner and below 6.7 mmol / l two hours after eating. Although it is often inconvenient to check blood sugar often, it is important for both the health of the woman and the health of the child.
Planning a pregnancy: help from a doctor
At the initial stage of pregnancy planning, the help of an endocrinologist and a gynecologist with experience in treating expectant mothers with diabetes is needed. It is necessary to go through all the designated examinations, to pass tests, if necessary, to be hospitalized for the correction of all metabolic disorders. Planning a pregnancy for such a disease can take up to 3-6 months or more, but it is important for the child to be born healthy later. Hurry events are not worth it. The doctor may advise taking vitamins, mineral preparations, monitor the blood sugar levels measured by the woman, blood pressure level, weight dynamics, make adjustments to nutrition in advance, develop measures to prevent infections of the reproductive system and colds. It is important that pregnancy planning is carried out in parallel with the father of the child, who also needs to undergo a full examination.
Food: it is important to eat regularly, without overeating
Most people can skip meals if they are busy. For women with diabetes this is unacceptable, nutrition is an important part of treating diabetes and is necessary to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Although a woman should not skip meals, it also does not mean that she should eat tightly every time. Nutrition is adjusted for appetite, glucose levels and insulin doses.
If a woman is overweight, it may require a slight increase in caloric intake during pregnancy. You need to stick to the right nutrient choices and avoid “bad carbohydrates,” such as candy, cookies, snacks, and chips. It is better to use food with full carbohydrates, such as oatmeal, fruits and vegetables, to consume healthy fats and enough protein.
Physical activity in diabetes
Regular exercise will help a woman with diabetes to feel better and to fully prepare for the birth of a child. Most women can follow standard recommendations: if you have diabetes, you need physical activity and exercise for about 150 minutes a week or 30 minutes five days a week.
The exception to the rule will be the lack of adequate physical activity before the pregnancy planning period. In this case, you need to slowly increase the load on the intensity and time, doing it under the guidance of a doctor. Naturally, you should always listen to the advice of a doctor regarding exercises during pregnancy. It is necessary to avoid exercises that require jumping, having a strong effect on the abdomen or with back bends. Walking, swimming, yoga or gymnastics are great for planning and subsequent pregnancy.
Consultation on the treatment of diabetes
It is important to consult with your doctor about diabetes medications that you need to continue to use. Many of the drugs used to treat diabetes are permissible at conception and gestation, but in fact, dosage adjustment may be necessary as insulin resistance changes. Some drugs may be prohibited, so it is always important that the doctor selects safe medicines and additional components (vitamins, minerals) that need to be taken.