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Pregnancy and diabetes: Is your body ready?
Thinking about having a baby? When you have diabetes, preconception planning can help you have a healthier pregnancy.
By Mayo Clinic staffYou have diabetes and you're thinking about having a baby. Naturally, you're concerned about the risks associated with pregnancy and diabetes. But there's good news! If you control your blood sugar level before and during pregnancy, the odds of having a healthy baby are superb.
Is your body ready for pregnancy?
Before you conceive, see your doctor for a physical exam. Mention your interest in pregnancy. If you take oral diabetes medication, you may need to switch to insulin or make other changes to your diabetes treatment plan before you conceive. If you have high blood pressure or signs of eye, nerve or kidney disease — or other diabetes complications that may be aggravated by pregnancy — you may need treatment before conception.
Your doctor also may suggest scheduling preconception appointments with an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies, a diabetes educator, a registered dietitian or other specialists.
Focus on blood sugar control
Controlling your blood sugar level is the best way to prevent diabetes complications. When it comes to pregnancy and diabetes, blood sugar control is more important than ever — even months before you conceive.
Your baby's brain, spinal cord, heart and other organs begin forming soon after conception, even before you know you're pregnant. If you have poor blood sugar control during the earliest days of pregnancy, your baby's risk of birth defects — particularly those affecting the brain, spine and heart — increases significantly. But if you manage your blood sugar level before you conceive, the risk of birth defects is nearly the same as if you didn't have diabetes.
Good blood sugar control also can reduce the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, the other primary concerns for pregnancy and diabetes.
Your doctor will help you establish your target blood sugar range for now and early in pregnancy. The goal is to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible.
Remember healthy-eating principles
Your diabetes diet probably includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. You can eat the same foods as you're planning for pregnancy. If you're having trouble keeping your blood sugar level in your target range or you want to lose excess pounds before pregnancy, you may want to consult a registered dietitian. The dietitian can help you customize your diabetes meal plan to meet your pre-pregnancy needs.
To help fill any nutritional gaps, take a daily prenatal vitamin — ideally starting a few months before conception.
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