Diabetic Mother - Condition, Symptoms And Precautions Explained

Diabetes is a medical condition in which the body is not able to break down food into energy. Type 1 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin and Type 2 diabetes is where the body does not use the insulin well enough. Apart from this two diabetes, gestational diabetes is developed in some women, during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects how your body is breaking down food into glucose. It generally causes high blood sugar in expectant mothers and it affects the baby’s health. Having a high blood sugar at the time of conception or during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, premature delivery, stillbirth and also increases the chances of having a cesarean delivery. In many cases, gestational diabetes has also caused the babies to develop obesity. In most cases, gestational diabetes and blood sugar return to normal levels, after the delivery.

What Should an Expectant Mother do?

If you are suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you must consult a doctor before planning for a baby. Your doctor will advise you on some preconception care which will help you monitor your blood sugar levels, and treat any other health problem like hypertension or high blood pressure.

During pregnancy, keep a check on your blood sugar levels to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Your doctor will advise you about the eating regime, some physical activities and insulin intake, to manage your blood sugar levels.

If a woman develops gestational diabetes during the tenure of pregnancy, they are most likely to have Type 2 diabetes, post-delivery. In order to rule out the possibility, get a sugar test done every 4-12 weeks. You can observe certain preventive measures like adopting a healthy lifestyle, making correct food choices and increasing the physical activity, to reduce the risk of getting a type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes does not cause any prominent symptoms, perhaps increased urination or thirst could be possible signs. If a woman develops gestational diabetes during pregnancy, she will regularly need check-ups to monitor the blood sugar levels. It is more likely to develop during the last trimester of pregnancy. There are no certain causes as to why women develop gestational diabetes, however, if you are overweight before pregnancy, you are at a greater risk of developing this medical condition. Normally, during pregnancy, there are hormonal changes taking place inside the body of a woman, to accommodate the new life inside. This process sometimes makes it hard for the body to process glucose efficiently, which is why the blood sugar levels rise.

Risks and Complications Affecting the Baby

If a pregnant mother is suffering from gestational or pre-gestational diabetes, the baby growing inside the womb is at a greater risk of developing severe health conditions. The complications can occur to the baby even while it is inside the womb or may occur after the baby is born. The babies can suffer from the following complications:

1.     Expectant mothers who are suffering from high blood sugar levels are more likely to have babies which are larger in size and weight. Babies who weigh 9 pounds or more are more likely to be delivered through a C-section and may even sustain some shoulder injuries during delivery. This condition is also termed as macrosomia.

2.     Mothers with high blood sugar levels may pose serious risk to the unborn baby due to which the baby may have to be delivered earlier or before completion of the term.

3.     Some babies may develop respiratory distress syndrome which causes breathing difficulty.

4.     Babies are also at a risk of having low blood sugar levels, also known as hypoglycemia. This condition may cause seizures in babies. Sometimes intravenous glucose is given to bring the sugar levels to normal range.

5.     Babies may develop obesity or type 2 diabetes conditions, later in life as they grow.

6.     Complications get severe and the chances of stillbirth also increase in mothers with diabetes. Stillbirth is a condition where the babies die before or shortly after birth.

The babies inside the womb of a mother with diabetes are also prone to the following risks:

• Birth (congenital) defects and miscarriage.

• Low oxygen levels

• Low blood iron levels

• High blood pressure

• Enlarged heart

• Poor or weak nervous system development

• High levels of red blood cells and thickened blood

• Low blood calcium

If any one of the above-mentioned problems affects your baby, immediate treatment should be started. Your baby’s treatment will also depend to a greater extent upon how well the blood sugar levels were controlled during delivery.

Controlling your blood sugar levels during pregnancy is very important. Get in touch with a healthcare provider and the following few things will help you control your rising sugar levels.

• Test frequently and monitor your sugar levels.

• Take insulin doses as prescribed.

• Watch your weight and try not to become obese during pregnancy.