Treatment for Diabetes During Pregnancy
When you get pregnant, you probably never think that treatment for diabetes will be one of the things you worry about – until you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, that is.
Here are a few hints, tips and facts about treatment for diabetes during pregnancy, so that you know what to expect.
Gestational Diabetes – Anyone Can Get It
One of the most shocking parts of being
told that you need treatment for diabetes during pregnancy is that very
often; women who get this news have never suffered from diabetes before.
If you are already a sufferer of
diabetes, then you are expecting treatment for diabetes during
pregnancy, but many women who have never had diabetes also find that
they need this type of treatment.
What Does Treatment for Diabetes During Pregnancy Entail?
When you are first told that you need
treatment for diabetes while you are pregnant, you probably have visions
of needles, and all the other things that go with treatment for
diabetics.
However, the good news is that in most
cases, treatment for diabetes during pregnancy does not involve insulin
injections, and you’ll probably only be given a diet to follow, and tips
on changes to your exercise routine, and other lifestyle management
advice.
You will probably be diagnosed during a
routine check up, which is when most blood sugar problems during
pregnancy are diagnosed, and your doctor will use the test results to
determine your ideal blood sugar range.
What Happens If You Don’t Get Treatment for Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is completely
manageable, and the treatment for diabetes during pregnancy is usually
simple and non invasive. However, if your condition goes undiagnosed,
and you don’t get treatment for diabetes, there are a number of things
that can go wrong, including:
- Abnormally large babies. Very often, the babies of women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, but who don’t receive treatment for diabetes, will grow too large, too fast. That may mean difficulty during labour, or you might need to have a c-section.
- Mothers who don’t get adequate treatment for diabetes during pregnancy are more at risk for high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia.
- Babies born to mums who are either receiving treatment for diabetes, or who were not diagnosed, are at risk of low blood sugar, and of other deficiencies, including calcium. They’re also prone to blood disorders. They may need to be monitored closely, or even given a drug soon after birth, to correct one or the other problems.
Get Diagnosed, and Get Treatment
The simple fact is that getting treatment for diabetes
if you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes can minimise the risk of
all sorts of nasty problems and complications occurring during your
pregnancy and after your baby is born. Finding out sooner, rather than
later, is always a good idea.
It’s far simpler to get diagnosed, and
to get diabetes treatment early on than it is to correct the problem if
you leave it too late. So have yourself tested when next you visit your
doctor, and if you need treatment for diabetes start it immediately.
You will be glad you did.
