Pregnancy

Exercise is a healthy part of any pregnancy. For women with diabetes, regular exercise: Reduces stress Improves strength and flexibility Helps your body use insulin better Controls your weight Leads to a quicker recovery after delivery How Does Exercise Affect Blood Sugar? Both exercise and insulin lower blood sugar. The combination can result in hypoglycemia (low blood […]

Labor is hard work. Although most women don’t need insulin injections once contractions start, you may be given fluids, calories, and, if necessary, insulin, through an intravenous tube inserted into your hand or arm. It’s important to maintain good control of your blood sugar levels up to the time you arrive at the hospital to

Here are some frequently asked questions related to diabetes in pregnancy. Q: If I get diabetes, does that mean my baby will? A: If you have gestational diabetes, your baby will not be born with diabetes. But both you and your baby are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Maintaining a healthy weight

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to diabetes in pregnancy. Eight million women have diabetes, and one in 20 pregnant women develops gestational diabetes. Diabetes in pregnancy is a cause for concern. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that pregnancy will be difficult, or that the chances of having a normal healthy

Here are definitions of medical terms related to diabetes in pregnancy. Carbohydrate: A nutrient in food that comes mainly from sugar and starch. Carbohydrate is broken down into glucose for energy. Diabetes mellitus: A disorder that prevents the body from converting digested food into energy. Gestational diabetes: A form of diabetes that begins during pregnancy and usually disappears

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on diabetes in pregnancy. Disorders of Carbohydrate Metabolism: Diabetes Mellitus  http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section2/chapter13/13a.htm Pregnancy Complicated by Disease: Diabetes Mellitus  http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section18/chapter251/251g.htm#A018-251-1070 Gestational Diabetes: What It Means for Me and My Baby  http://familydoctor.org/handouts/075.html Exercise: An Alternative Therapy for Gestational Diabetes  http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/mar_96/artal.htm

The goal in treating diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels as normal as possible. That usually involves: Daily blood glucose monitoring Taking insulin Following a special diet Following an exercise program It’s normal to feel stressed during pregnancy. Diabetes creates additional stresses. You have to see your doctor more often than women without diabetes,

In women with gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes, the sugar (glucose) in your blood directly affects the size of your baby. If your blood sugar level is high, the baby gets too much nourishment and overgrows. This can lead to a condition called macrosomia or “fat” baby. Macrosomia causes problems for both you and

Glucose, a sugar that results from the digestion of food, is the body’s main nourishment. During pregnancy, your body also supplies your baby with glucose, which is delivered through the placenta and is your baby’s only source of nourishment. The placenta also makes certain hormones to help the baby develop. But these hormones make it

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a disorder in the way the body gets energy from food. It occurs: When there isn’t enough insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas that is essential for using food properly, or When the insulin the body makes doesn’t work normally Glucose is a sugar that results from the digestion