Diabetes and pregnancy | New Health and Fitness

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Although there are significant risks to women with diabetes throughout their pregnancy, doctors and diabetes specialists maintain that as long as women control their diabetes properly before and during pregnancy, there is no reason why they cannot give birth to a healthy baby. Different types of diabetes can affect pregnant women in different ways, so let?s take a look.

Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body doesn?t produce any insulin. Because of the severity of this type, most women who have type 1 diabetes are diagnosed before they find out they are pregnant. Type 1 diabetes can be treated prior to and during pregnancy by making sure their body is getting the insulin it needs.

Type 2 diabetes is more common amongst certain demographics, including those over 40, those who are overweight and black and Asian men and women. Women with diabetes who become pregnant often find that their medication needs to be adjusted to meet the growing demands for insulin in the body. The health team looking after the mother throughout the pregnancy will be able to instruct her how to stay healthy, which can include taking an insulin pill or injection to lower blood glucose levels.

Gestational diabetes is the type that is caused by pregnancy, developing when the body cannot meet the additional insulin demands of both the mother and child. If untreated, gestational diabetes can lead to a range of health risks for both mother and child including a heightened chance of miscarriage and birth defects. Although gestational diabetes disappears after birth, mothers have more chance of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life.

Whether the mother has pre-existing or pregnancy-induced diabetes, if blood glucose levels are kept at the ideal 6.1%, doctors agree that women with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes can all go on to have healthy pregnancies.

Find out more about diabetes management.

Source: http://newhealthandfitness.org/2012/02/23/diabetes-and-pregnancy/

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