Pregnancy

Having children is a big decision for anyone. If you are a woman who has diabetes, it is a
decision that requires much more thought and careful planning.
Diabetes UKs Careline often gets asked Can I have a baby if I have diabetes? The answer is
yes, many women who have diabetes (Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes) have perfectly
healthy pregnancies and wonderfully healthy babies. But this isn't to say that it's an easy
experience it requires a lot of work and dedication on your part. If you are planning to have a
baby, or think you are pregnant, then it is vital that you speak to your diabetes care team.
Risks for you and your baby
For you, risks can include an increased risk of miscarriage, problems with your eyes and your
kidneys, and having a large baby, which can make labour more difficult.
For your baby, risks can include health problems after birth requiring special or intensive care,
as well as the possibility of heart problems, spina bifida and other birth defects. There is also an
increased risk of stillbirth or your baby dying shortly after birth.
By planning ahead, you can really improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a
healthy baby.
Preconception care
Preconception care should start from adolescence and it is important to use effective
contraception until you want to become pregnant. If you have Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes
and are thinking of having a baby, it is a good idea for you to know what tests and treatment to
expect, and what you can do to get your pregnancy off to a healthy start. Ask to be referred to a
pre-conception clinic that is usually run by the diabetes midwife and the diabetes specialist
nurse. Avoid alcohol while you are trying to conceive as well as during pregnancy.
During your pregnancy
You will be offered extra monitoring appointments and scans during your pregnancy to help you
keep good control of your blood sugar and check your babys growth and development. You
should have contact with a joint diabetes and antenatal team weekly or fortnightly throughout
your pregnancy. .
Your diabetes team will encourage you to do more blood glucose tests and agree personal target
levels. As a general guideline, your aim should be for:

fasting: below 5.3mmol/l

1 hour after meals: below 7.8mmol/l

2 hours after meals: below 6.4mmol/l

Lifestyle tips for a healthy pregnancy

Stop smoking: smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby

Avoid alcohol: the safest approach is not to drink at all while you're expecting

Eat a healthy balanced diet: eat healthily for you and your baby

Keep active: staying fit in pregnancy helps you to adapt to changes in shape and weight

Gestational diabetes only happens during pregnancy. If you have it, you can still
have a healthy baby, with help from your doctor and by doing simple things every day to manage
your blood sugar.
After your baby is born, you may not have diabetes anymore. Gestational diabetes makes you
more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but it wont definitely happen.
Causes
During pregnancy, the placenta makes hormones that can lead to a buildup of sugar in
your blood. Usually, your pancreas can make enoughinsulin to handle that. If not, your blood
sugar levels will rise and can cause gestational diabetes.
Are You at Risk?
You are more likely to get gestational diabetes if:

You were overweight before you got pregnant.

You are African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American.
Your blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be diabetes.
Diabetes runs in your family.
Youve had gestational diabetes before.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will check to see if you have gestational diabetes ASAP if youre likely to get it, or
between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy if youre not at high risk.
To test for gestational diabetes, you will quickly drink a sugary drink. This will raise your blood
sugar levels. An hour later, youll take a blood test to see how your body handled all that sugar. If
the result shows that your blood sugar is 140 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or greater, you will
fast for a few hours and then take another blood test.
If your results are normal but you have a high risk of getting gestational diabetes, you may need
a follow-up test later in your pregnancy to make sure you still dont have it.
Treatment

To treat your gestational diabetes, your doctor will ask you to:

Check your blood sugar levels four or more times a day.

Do urine tests that check for ketones, which mean that your diabetes is not under control
Eat a healthy diet thats in line with your doctors recommendations
Make exercise a habit
Your doctor will track how much weight you gain and let you know if you need to take insulin or
other medicine for your gestational diabetes.