Challenges of diabetes during pregnancy

USA Today recently ran a piece on expectant mothers who are dealing with the challenges of diabetes during pregnancy. It's a good read for a first hand look at what mothers with diabetes may go through, plus the piece offers tips on conception and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. If you're looking for some basic tips though, read below. What sort of diabetes can pregnant women have: Pregnant women can have diabetes before becoming pregnant. There's Type 1 diabetes, which means your body does not make insulin. Type 2 diabetes, is far more common and means your body does not make or use insulin well. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes you get only during pregnancy. After you give birth it goes away in most cases, but can make you more prone to having diabetes later. What does it mean to have diabetes: If your body can't make enough insulin, the glucose in your body stays in your blood which is not healthy for you or your baby. During your pregnancy you'll have one or more blood glucose tests to rule diabetes out or in. Some women are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes. Risks of of diabetes during pregnancy include: According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) high blood glucose levels before and during pregnancy can...

• worsen your long-term diabetes complications, such as vision problems, heart disease, and kidney disease
• increase the chance of problems for your baby, such as being born too early, weighing too much or too little, and having low blood glucose or other health problems at birth
• increase the risk of your baby having birth defects
• increase the risk of losing your baby through miscarriage or stillbirth

Keep in mind though, the NIDDK notes that "When women with diabetes keep blood glucose levels under control before and during pregnancy, the risk of birth defects is about the same as in babies born to women who don’t have diabetes." Help managing your diabetes: First of all you need an awesome support team. A pregnancy with diabetes requires special care so listen to and work with your support team. Exercise is important and even if you have diabetes during pregnancy your health care provider and you can plan a healthy exercise routein. See an entire support plan for diabetes during pregnancy from the American Diabetes Association.