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I’m 32 and live with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. I knew living with this condition was going to be a constant challenge for me. My long term boyfriend and I have decided that we are going to try to have a baby. I have dreamt about being a mother for as long as I can remember. We decided we were going to try to conceive immediately. But, I recently found out that being insulin dependent has put my baby at risk for having a neural tube defect. Not only has this information made me feel as though I am not ready to continue with trying to get pregnant, but I feel so guilty. I’m so worried that my diabetes will impact our chance of starting a family.
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Diabetes and Pregnancy
#2
Amanda 
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- LocationOntario, Canada
Posted 26 October 2011 - 08:36 AM
As a nursing student, I have dealt with several patients living with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. I realize that this new information is frightening (to say the least), and has caused you to delay wanting to get pregnant. I suggest that you and your partner discuss the matter openly and honestly together. Also, I suggest that you research the benefits of incorporating the B vitamin folic acid into your diet. Folic Acid has been proven to lower the risk of a fetus developing a neural tube defect (NTD), such as spina bifida, by 70% if taken 3 months prior to conception. Most women of child bearing age only need 0.4 mg, which can be found in many daily multivitamins. Due to the diabetes, you are at an increased risk for a possible NTD affected pregnancy, and, in most cases would require a higher dosage. I recommend that you and your partner seek advice from your family doctor to determine your specific risk factors, how much folic acid you should consume, and when you should begin including folic acid in your diet.
#3 Guest_Myrtice12_*
Posted 21 November 2011 - 01:28 AM
In the general population, there is about a 2 to 3% risk for having a baby with a major birth defect. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes do not have a greater risk of birth defects than the general population.
In women with presentational diabetes, this risk is increased about three to fourfold particularly if blood sugars are high during the early weeks of pregnancy. This is the developmental time period when the baby is forming its vital organs. The risk for having a baby with birth defects is directly correlated with how poorly the blood sugar was controlled during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
The most common birth defects are those of the brain, spinal cord and heart. The majority of these birth defects can be detected during the first half of the pregnancy with ultrasound studies and prenatal diagnostic tests. Having diabetes does not increase the risk for having a baby with a chromosome problem such as Down syndrome over the age-related risk. The key to minimizing the risks for having a baby with a birth defect is to seek preconception medical care in order to optimize blood sugar control before becoming pregnant.
In women with presentational diabetes, this risk is increased about three to fourfold particularly if blood sugars are high during the early weeks of pregnancy. This is the developmental time period when the baby is forming its vital organs. The risk for having a baby with birth defects is directly correlated with how poorly the blood sugar was controlled during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
The most common birth defects are those of the brain, spinal cord and heart. The majority of these birth defects can be detected during the first half of the pregnancy with ultrasound studies and prenatal diagnostic tests. Having diabetes does not increase the risk for having a baby with a chromosome problem such as Down syndrome over the age-related risk. The key to minimizing the risks for having a baby with a birth defect is to seek preconception medical care in order to optimize blood sugar control before becoming pregnant.
#4 Guest_Myrtice12_*
Posted 05 January 2012 - 01:26 AM
Diabetes Pregnancy and the Importance of Blood Sugar Control
Good blood sugar control means keeping blood glucose levels within the ideal range (70 to 100 mg/dL before meals, less than 120 mg/dL two hours after eating, and 100-140 mg/dL before the bedtime snack), as well as balancing meals, exercise, and diabetes medications.
Good blood sugar control is important before becoming pregnant because many women do not even know they are pregnant until the baby has been growing for 2-4 weeks. High blood sugar levels early in the pregnancy (before 13 weeks) can cause birth defects.
Good blood sugar control is just as important during pregnancy because high blood sugar levels can increase the risk of miscarriage and can increase your risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
How Diabetes and Pregnancy May Affect Baby
A common problem among the babies of pregnant diabetic women is a condition called "macrosomia," which means "large body." In other words, babies of diabetic women are apt to be considerably larger than others.
This occurs because many of these babies receive too much sugar via the placenta because their mothers have high blood sugar levels. The baby's pancreas senses the high sugar levels and it produces more insulin in an attempt to use up all the extra sugar. That extra sugar is converted to fat, making a large baby.
Diabetes Pregnancy and the Importance of Blood Sugar Control
Good blood sugar control means keeping blood glucose levels within the ideal range (70 to 100 mg/dL before meals, less than 120 mg/dL two hours after eating, and 100-140 mg/dL before the bedtime snack), as well as balancing meals, exercise, and diabetes medications.
Good blood sugar control is important before becoming pregnant because many women do not even know they are pregnant until the baby has been growing for 2-4 weeks. High blood sugar levels early in the pregnancy (before 13 weeks) can cause birth defects.
Good blood sugar control is just as important during pregnancy because high blood sugar levels can increase the risk of miscarriage and can increase your risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
How Diabetes and Pregnancy May Affect Baby
A common problem among the babies of pregnant diabetic women is a condition called "macrosomia," which means "large body." In other words, babies of diabetic women are apt to be considerably larger than others.
This occurs because many of these babies receive too much sugar via the placenta because their mothers have high blood sugar levels. The baby's pancreas senses the high sugar levels and it produces more insulin in an attempt to use up all the extra sugar. That extra sugar is converted to fat, making a large baby.
What are the risks?
Research has found that pregnant women with diabetes are five times more likely to have stillborn babies. Babies whose mothers have diabetes are:
•three times more likely to die within four weeks of birth
•twice as likely to have a serious birth defect
Insulin is the traditional first-choice drug for blood glucose control during pregnancy, because it is the most effective for fine-tuning blood glucose and it doesn’t cross the placenta. Therefore, it is safe for the baby. Insulin can be injected with a syringe, an insulin pen, or through an insulin pump. All three methods are safe for pregnant women.
Good luck
Good blood sugar control means keeping blood glucose levels within the ideal range (70 to 100 mg/dL before meals, less than 120 mg/dL two hours after eating, and 100-140 mg/dL before the bedtime snack), as well as balancing meals, exercise, and diabetes medications.
Good blood sugar control is important before becoming pregnant because many women do not even know they are pregnant until the baby has been growing for 2-4 weeks. High blood sugar levels early in the pregnancy (before 13 weeks) can cause birth defects.
Good blood sugar control is just as important during pregnancy because high blood sugar levels can increase the risk of miscarriage and can increase your risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
How Diabetes and Pregnancy May Affect Baby
A common problem among the babies of pregnant diabetic women is a condition called "macrosomia," which means "large body." In other words, babies of diabetic women are apt to be considerably larger than others.
This occurs because many of these babies receive too much sugar via the placenta because their mothers have high blood sugar levels. The baby's pancreas senses the high sugar levels and it produces more insulin in an attempt to use up all the extra sugar. That extra sugar is converted to fat, making a large baby.
Diabetes Pregnancy and the Importance of Blood Sugar Control
Good blood sugar control means keeping blood glucose levels within the ideal range (70 to 100 mg/dL before meals, less than 120 mg/dL two hours after eating, and 100-140 mg/dL before the bedtime snack), as well as balancing meals, exercise, and diabetes medications.
Good blood sugar control is important before becoming pregnant because many women do not even know they are pregnant until the baby has been growing for 2-4 weeks. High blood sugar levels early in the pregnancy (before 13 weeks) can cause birth defects.
Good blood sugar control is just as important during pregnancy because high blood sugar levels can increase the risk of miscarriage and can increase your risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
How Diabetes and Pregnancy May Affect Baby
A common problem among the babies of pregnant diabetic women is a condition called "macrosomia," which means "large body." In other words, babies of diabetic women are apt to be considerably larger than others.
This occurs because many of these babies receive too much sugar via the placenta because their mothers have high blood sugar levels. The baby's pancreas senses the high sugar levels and it produces more insulin in an attempt to use up all the extra sugar. That extra sugar is converted to fat, making a large baby.
What are the risks?
Research has found that pregnant women with diabetes are five times more likely to have stillborn babies. Babies whose mothers have diabetes are:
•three times more likely to die within four weeks of birth
•twice as likely to have a serious birth defect
Insulin is the traditional first-choice drug for blood glucose control during pregnancy, because it is the most effective for fine-tuning blood glucose and it doesn’t cross the placenta. Therefore, it is safe for the baby. Insulin can be injected with a syringe, an insulin pen, or through an insulin pump. All three methods are safe for pregnant women.
Good luck
#5
Amanda
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- LocationOntario, Canada
Posted 18 January 2012 - 02:54 PM
The research has demonstrated an improvement for pregnancy outcome of diabetic women in general during the 20th century with comparison studies between planned and unplanned pregnancies. Studies have found 40-80 % of diabetic women do not plan their pregnancies. Planned pregnancy following supplementation and a diet rich in folic acid fortified foods in combination with good glycemic management has demonstrated breakthrough results in the primary prevention of having a baby born with a neural tube defect.
In fact, population studies have shown the risk of mothers having a baby born with a congenital malformation to be of four times higher than that for babies of non- insulin dependent diabetic mothers- as insulin-dependent diabetic women are classified as a ‘high-risk” group. However, preconception care including intensive management of insulin-dependent diabetes has been proven to reduce the rates of congenital malformations significantly. Prenatal care is the care a woman gets before pregnancy and before her baby is born. Getting early and regular prenatal care is important for both the mother and the developing baby. Today, preconception care has been adopted within diabetes and maternity services.
Therefore, factors affecting an insulin-dependent diabetic women’s pregnancy are modifiable to adjusting her risk to having a baby born with congenital anomalies.
Behavioral changes can be made to comply with preconception care needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy such as:
• Planning pregnancy to allow for ample time to commence preconception care: All women of child bearing age should be taking folic acid/multivitamin supplementation at least 3 months prior to conception counting 0.4 mg of folic acid per day for low-risk women and 4.0mg per day for women of high risk (Insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetic women)• Working in partnership with a multidisciplinary medical team for a woman to achieve and maintain a blood glucose between 4-7 mmol/L before pregnancy and continuing self-management of good glycaemic control
• Receiving adequate and accurate knowledge of diabetic implications regarding pregnancy
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