Diabetic pregnancies are two types. It’s either you already had diabetes before you became pregnant or you develop diabetes during your pregnancy or it is pregnancy-induced.

Diabetic Pregnant Mothers

For mothers who are already diabetic before getting pregnant, here are some helpful tips and preventative measures you may follow to closely monitor your diabetes:

Have a regular check-up.

By visiting your doctor regularly, you will be able to monitor your condition. Diabetic moms will most likely have frequent visits to her doctor than those who don’t suffer diabetes. Do not be alarmed if your doctor will require you to undergo series of tests. This is to make sure that you and your baby are healthy as you go through this delicate condition. Some tests your doctor may require are blood tests, eye exams, amniocentesis and sonography.

Follow your doctor’s orders.

Expect that your doctor will give you several orders or checklist of things that you will need to follow to monitor your diabetes. Aside from monitoring your blood sugar at least 4 times a day or as prescribed by your doctor, you may also be asked to keep track of your baby’s movements several times a day.

Monitor your medications.

As your baby grows in your tummy, your insulin dosage may be adjusted as well. If you are taking oral medication for your diabetes before you got pregnant, you may be switched to insulin injections that will less affect your baby.

Early maternity leave.

If you have a stressful job, your doctor may suggest that you take your maternity leave early. This is to make sure you get enough rest and your health will be monitored closely.

Check your health.

Make sure your body copes with all these changes. Do not skip meals and follow your doctor’s prescription on your diet. Your diet will be composed mostly of high in complex carbohydrates, average protein and low in fat and cholesterol with no sugar or sweets. Don’t forget to include regular exercise in your checklist.

Communicate with other moms with diabetes

Getting support from other diabetic mothers will help you cope and face this pregnancy complication easier. Diabetic pregnancy may be a difficult condition to deal with and knowing that others understand you will help you handle it easily.

Pregnancy Induced Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes

Developing diabetes DURING pregnancy or “Gestational Diabetes” usually happens to 3 percent of women who gets pregnant. This is due to hormonal changes during pregnancy wherein an increased amount of insulin is required as pregnancy progresses. The pancreas that produces insulin has to work overtime to meet this added demand of insulin. Increase in insulin can be met, however in some cases that it cannot, the condition is called gestational diabetes or temporary diabetes.

This pregnancy-induced diabetes, usually goes away after the baby is born.

What are possible problems when you have gestational diabetes?

Insulin converts the sugar from food in to your blood used by your body for energy. With the lack of insulin during pregnancy, excess sugar in your body will be transferred to the placenta and to the baby, which increases the risk of birth injury and placental insufficiency that may lead to cesarean birth.

Though pregnant mothers and their baby are undergoing a delicate condition, with proper medication and preventative measures, both mother and baby will do well throughout the pregnancy.

Learn more about Gestational Diabetes symptoms.