Gestational diabetes is common among pregnant women in the United States. Those diagnosed with gestational diabetes only have diabetes for the 9-or-so months that they are pregnant, but they are then at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes later in life (http://www.smmmc.org/clinicalservices/diabetes/).
But what about type 1 diabetics who become pregnant? Juvenile diabetics can have a safe and healthy pregnancy if they keep their blood sugar under strict control.
Women with juvenile diabetes need to have support in their pregnancy. It is important that anyone else that will be involved with the baby’s life knows that being pregnant and diabetic requires extra control, education, and patience during the pregnancy.
There are many steps that you can take before pregnancy to ensure the health of your baby. Speaking with your doctor is the first priority. If you are not in good health before deciding to become pregnant, not only are you putting yourself at risk, but you are also endangering the baby.
Some studies show that women in excellent control of their diabetes before and during pregnancy have every chance of having a healthy baby as their non-diabetic counterparts (http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103524).
Staying in control while pregnant may require a lot of extra effort on the mom’s part, but know that every step taken in the right direction will increase the chances of having a healthy child.
Having a team of doctors is a great way to make sure that you and your baby are well taken care of. Your diabetes doctor and an OBGYN need to be included, but you should also consider a dietician, a diabetes educator, and a pediatrician to ensure a successful pregnancy.
A major concern among pregnant juvenile diabetics is the possibility of their baby having diabetes. However, doctors usually check things like blood sugar in babies when the mom is a juvenile diabetic, and they will alert you if any problems arise.
As long as blood sugars remain under control and a pregnant juvenile diabetic remains in close contact with her care team, there should be no reason that she will not have a healthy baby! For more information, please visit http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103524.