Diabetic Care

At High-Risk Pregnancy Specialists, we help expecting mothers manage their diabetes to lessen the risk of potential complications of this condition.

Diabetes before pregnancy

If you suffer from diabetes and are looking to become pregnant, you should schedule a preconception counseling appointment with our team. During your appointment, we will provide diabetic education to optimize your pregnancy outcome. Your blood-sugar level will be tested to ensure you are healthy enough to conceive a child. Other tests we can administer to diabetic women who are looking to become pregnant include:

• Blood work to check for proper kidney and liver function
• Blood work to test cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• Electrocardiograms to check your heart health
• Urinalysis to check for kidney problems

The risks diabetes pose

Dealing with diabetes during your pregnancy can lead to a variety of complications for both you and your child before and during delivery. Having diabetes puts your child at risk for:

• Developing type 2 diabetes
• Being born prematurely
• Being born with low blood sugar
• Having a higher-than-normal birth weight
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Birth defects
• Stillbirth

Complications that can impact your pregnancy include:

• Increased chance of needing a C-section
• Developing diabetes in future pregnancies
• Developing diabetes later in life
• Risk of high blood pressure and preeclampsia

What is gestational diabetes?

Even if you don't have diabetes at the time of conception, there is a chance of developing it during your pregnancy. This is known as gestational diabetes, and it occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to process and transport the glucose in the bloodstream.

One of the reasons it develops is due to the types of hormones your placenta produces while you are pregnant. These hormones interfere with the insulin cell’s normal ability to handle glucose. If your body cannot produce enough insulin to make up for this, you are at increased risk for developing gestational diabetes. We typically test for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks into pregnancy, but if your doctor determines you are at a higher risk for developing this condition, you will be screened for it during your first prenatal appointment.  

Who is at risk for gestational diabetes?

Most women will go their entire pregnancies without developing this condition, as it only occurs in 2% to 10% of pregnancies each year. However, the following contributing factors can put you at higher risk for gestational diabetes:

• Certain ethnicities, such as African-American, Asian, Hispanic or Native-American, have shown a correlation
• Being overweight before your pregnancy
• Being over age 25
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

If these factors apply to you, it is important that you be proactive and take the necessary steps to reduce your chances of developing gestational diabetes. Please talk with our team to see how we can help!

How high-risk pregnancy specialists can help

The team at High-Risk Pregnancy Specialists is well-versed in helping women through their high-risk pregnancies. The health of you and your child will always be our top priority, and we can help you manage a pregnancy that is impacted by diabetes:

• Monitoring blood sugar: It is important to check your blood sugar levels four to six times a day and relay this information to our team. By doing so, we will be better positioned to ensure your blood sugar remains at a healthy level and determine any necessary actions that need to be taken.
• Keeping a healthy weight: Gaining weight during your pregnancy is important for your child’s natural development. However, gaining too much weight increases the risk of diabetic complications. Our specialists can help determine appropriate weight gain during pregnancy. We will also provide a nutritional plan to help safely manage blood sugar levels. In some cases, a workout plan may also be recommended. Exercising can help increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin, meaning less needs to be produced. It can also help with keeping a healthy weight.
• Insulin Intake: Around 10% to 20% of women will need insulin injections when dealing with diabetes during pregnancy. The team at High-Risk Pregnancy Specialists will determine if you need insulin and prescribe it accordingly. 

High-Risk Pregnancy Specialists has a team of medical specialists to help mothers deal with high-risk pregnancies. Don’t hesitate to ask what our practice can do to help.