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Healthy You Archives Healthy You Archives |
Just for Women
When You're Pregnant and Have DiabetesGood blood sugar control makes all the difference for your baby’s health
A success story—
During her first pregnancy, Maggie Bova, 37, of Macungie developed gestational diabetes—and it didn’t go away after she had Grace (left), now age 8. Despite the challenges, Bova had three more healthy children: Evan, 3 (in her arms), Patrick, 11 months, and Audrey, 6. An insulin pump controls her blood sugar. A Sensor Keeps Close Watch on Blood SugarPhysicians at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network are using a “continuous glucose monitoring system” to better track their patients’ blood sugar levels during pregnancy. A tiny sensor is implanted temporarily under the skin of your stomach. Once a trimester, the sensor is attached to a monitor that takes blood sugar readings every 10 seconds for three days. The data give a detailed picture of your blood sugar activity, allowing your caregivers to make quick adjustments in diet or medication. During pregnancy, blood sugar and ketones (produced when the body breaks down fat) pass through the placenta to the baby. In large amounts, they can cause heart defects, spina bifida, deafness and missing extremities, especially during the first few weeks of organ growth. Six to 12 percent of babies born to diabetic mothers have birth defects, Roberts says, versus 2 to 3 percent for non-diabetic mothers. Some women who’ve never had diabetes develop high blood sugar during pregnancy. This is known as gestational diabetes, and it affects about 4 percent of pregnant women in the United States each year. You’re at higher risk if you have a history of diabetes in your family. With our society’s rising rates of diabetes and obesity, gestational diabetes also is on the rise, says endocrinologist Larry Merkle, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Because gestational diabetes occurs late in pregnancy (usually the last trimester), it doesn’t cause the birth defects mentioned earlier. But high blood sugar in the mother means high blood sugar in the baby. If it’s too high, the baby turns the extra calories into fat—and an overweight baby can mean a difficult labor or, in some cases, a Cesarean section. To detect gestational diabetes, all women are screened at about 28 weeks of preg-nancy. (Those with a family history of diabetes are screened at 10 to 12 weeks.) “Gestational diabetes is a wake-up call to mothers,” says diabetes nurse educator Maryellen Cooper, R.N., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Half the women who have gestational diabetes eventually develop type 2 diabetes, she says, and overweight newborns also are at greater risk for the disorder later in life. “Keeping your blood sugar under control is key to keeping yourself and your child healthy,” says Roberts’ colleague, certified nurse practitioner Wendy Prutsman, R.N. That means regular exercise, a carefully followed diet, and insulin if you need it. For those with pre-existing diabetes, an insulin pump may offer the best control. For gestational diabetes, insulin is used most often, though oral medications also are available. Since some of these cross the placenta, people tend to avoid them, Roberts says, but there is no evidence they can harm the baby. After the birth, gestational diabetes goes away in 98 percent of cases. But it’s important, Roberts says, for diabetic women to continue controlling their blood sugar—and following a healthy diet and exercise routine to reduce their risk for problems in the future.
Want to Know More about breastfeeding for diabetic mothers, staying healthy after pregnancy, and how to help children avoid diabetes and obesity? Call 610-402-CARE. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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 March April 2005 Eating Healthy
Staying Fit
Caring for Mind and Body
Just for Women
Just for Men
Raising a Family
Heart of Healthy You
Protecting Your Health
Coping with Illness
Aging Well
Keeping Up to Date
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