Diabetes and Pregnancy – Tips for a Healthy Baby
Women's bodies go through all sorts of changes over the course of a pregnancy. For those who are also suffering from diabetes, things get even trickier. You can suffer from various complications such as kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye disease. Also, diabetes can have adverse effects on your fetus, leading to increased weight or even birth defects.
Even if you have a proper handle on your condition, pregnancy will change things. All of the hormones may cause your insulin levels to alter. The following are a few tips to get through a diabetic pregnancy and have a healthy baby.
Medical Professionals
You've undoubtedly heard the axiom "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". Diabetes increases the risk of pregnancy complications, so it's even more important to seek the right type of medical professionals to guide you. At the very least, your doctor and obstetrician should have experience dealing with diabetics.
Your diet will also change during your pregnancy. Consulting a dietitian to help you make the right food choices is an important step in having a healthy baby.
Testing
If you haven't made a habit of testing yourself several times each day, now is the time. Hormones can interfere with insulin production, which may cause your treatment regimen to change. Try to test your level after you have eaten. It's also a good idea to test right after you wake up in the morning since it will have been a while since you've eaten anything.
Treatments
There are various treatment plans for type-2 diabetes. If you take pills to manage the condition, then your doctor may suggest that you switch to insulin shots. Not only can oral medications be less effective during pregnancy, but there are questions as to whether they're safe for the baby. Insulin injections won't cause any harm.
Eating
It's important for any expecting mother to eat properly. Those who have diabetes need to take special care. As suggested earlier, seeking the advice of a dietitian is a really good idea. Following a healthy meal plan certainly will do more good than harm.
Try to avoid going long periods of time without eating anything. That's why it's a good idea to eat something really small a little while before going to bed. Throughout the day, eat at least three small meals with light snacks sprinkled in between.
Exercise
Eating right is just one aspect of maintaining a healthy pregnancy while suffering from diabetes. Physical activity provides many health benefits for you and your child. Just make sure that you don't overdo it.
Even before you begin exercising, you should consult one of your medical professionals. They should be able to help you come up with a safe and effective exercise plan. Ideally, you will be in relatively good shape even before getting pregnancy to make things easier.
Having a healthy baby is important to any mother. Diabetes can cause complications if you're not careful. By eating right, exercising, and following the guidance of your doctors, you will hopefully have few issues with your pregnancy.
