Women who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes might think that pregnancy is not possible for them. Well, this thinking must be changed, as pregnancy applies to all women, regardless of a type 1 diabetes illness. To ensure that this event of life is safe, not just for the baby but also for the mother, there are certain precautionary measures that women must take into account.
Planning for pregnancy plays a vital role, especially for those who are diagnosed with a chronic disease. As type 1 diabetes is already tagged as a life-long condition, keeping your baby and yourself safe from certain health complications should be considered during the pregnancy stage.
Here, you will learn the necessary health measures to observe before getting pregnant. You will also learn the dos and don’ts during pregnancy, and lastly, obtain medical advice and instructions after the delivery. Read on to learn more.
Before Getting Pregnant
- Talk with your doctor – Discussing your plans with your doctor can help a lot, most especially in ensuring you are on the right track to get pregnant. By doing so, your doctor will provide you with more detailed instructions, which involve your preparation for pregnancy.
- Check your overall health – If you are planning to get pregnant, being healthy is necessary. However, to ensure that your body can carry a child without any restrictions, get yourself checked and tested for any form of illness. Apart from that, you must also avoid being involved in alcohol abuse and poor lifestyle choices. Note that raising a baby in your womb can be difficult, which is why being healthy is a must.
- Always manage your condition – Before getting yourself pregnant, ensure that your blood sugar levels do not increase abnormally. Avoid consuming too many sugary foods or beverages, as it can only contribute to your existing condition.
During Pregnancy
Report to your doctor immediately should you realize or find out that you are pregnant already. Doing so will prevent any complications, as being pregnant amidst a type 1 diabetes diagnosis can put you at risk of different health dilemmas.
During this stage, your daily medication may be adjusted. However, you must also do your part to ensure that your blood sugar levels are stabilized and controlled. Consider the following measures:
- Manage your blood sugar levels – This measure is pretty much the same as the factor you need to observe while getting yourself prepared for pregnancy. It means eating only nutritious foods and not taking in any edible materials that are high in glucose or sugar.
- Always check your insulin intake – Pregnancy can put women in a state of lower blood sugar levels. Being in such a state is already a complication. This is also the reason why adjustment in your medication is necessary during pregnancy. Ask your doctor about this medication adjustment.
A safe pregnancy is possible if you manage to control your blood sugar levels. Apart from that, you must also be wary of different health complications during pregnancy. Knowing these complications will help you in preventing them from occurring:
- Insulin resistance
- Macrosomia
- Serious birth defects
- Miscarriage
- Preeclampsia
During your pregnancy, plan out where you want to deliver your baby. For this part, it is recommended that pregnant women who have type 1 diabetes should deliver in hospitals. Why is this so? It is mainly because they are more monitored than in small clinics or at home. If anything bad happens during the delivery, they are immediately attended to in hospitals.
After Delivery
Shortly after delivery, your blood sugar levels might drop. To ensure that it won’t complicate, your doctor will help you in your dosage, which can counter the emergence of a health complication. Additionally, you will be monitored after delivering the baby, which is necessary as your blood sugar levels are not normal during the process until your recovery.
Meanwhile, newly-born infants are expected to have lower levels of blood sugar. That is why it is recommended to keep your levels of blood glucose close to the targeted state during your pregnancy. This action will definitely reduce complications, such as your baby having hypoglycemia.
Takeaway
During your pregnancy, get yourself checked regularly to ensure that your baby will come out healthy. Always obtain necessary medical advice and instructions from your doctor and follow them strictly. Remember that during pregnancy, you are not only managing your condition. You are also ensuring your baby’s health and well-being.
