Diabetes and Pregnancy
If you have diabetes, or develop gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, you will have to carefully monitor and control your blood sugar levels and manage your diabetes medications.
If you manage your diabetes well, you can have a relatively normal pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby.
The Diabetes Management program is here to help.
Your Care Management Team
The Diabetes Management program functions as the quarterback of your care team.
We create a customized care plan for you, based on your medical history and laboratory test results. We also coordinate the efforts of your care team, which consists of:
- A registered nurse with specialized training and certification in diabetes management
- Perinatologists–specialists in high-risk pregnancies–to monitor your health and your growing baby
- A registered dietitian who is also a certified diabetes educator
- Genetic counselors
You will need a referral from your OB or midwife to participate in the program.
Monitoring Your Pregnancy
You'll start out learning how diabetes affects your pregnancy, and how pregnancy affects your diabetes.
Along with managing blood glucose levels, we'll create a treatment plan that keeps meals, exercise and insulin in balance. We'll monitor your progress and adjust the plan as your pregnancy progresses.
Managing Blood Glucose
Your blood glucose level will change during pregnancy, and will require more work to control. We'll set target ranges for you, and you'll use frequent home blood glucose testing to make sure your levels stay within the healthy ranges.
Medications
We'll help you find the best medications to help you maintain good glucose control. This often means switching from oral medications to insulin during your pregnancy.
Nutrition
Our registered dietitian will teach you about nutrition and help you with planning healthy meals for both your baby's growth and control of your blood sugar.
Your dietitian will keep track of your weight gain and modify your diet as needed.
Exercise
Physical activity is a key part of diabetes treatment, especially during pregnancy. We'll help you find an exercise program that is both safe and effective in helping maintain a healthy weight and blood glucose range.
Monitoring Your Overall Health
Our perinatologists are experts in caring for both mothers and babies during high-risk pregnancies. They will monitor your baby's development and overall well-being with regular ultrasounds.
They will also monitor your blood sugar levels, kidney function, blood pressure and overall health.
Pre-Conception Counseling
If you're a diabetic and considering pregnancy, it's extremely important that you have normal blood glucose levels and be healthy overall before you become pregnant. If your blood glucose levels are high in the first six weeks, before you even know you are pregnant, it can have a devastating impact on your developing fetus.
The Diabetes Management Program offers valuable pre-conception counseling to help ensure your blood glucose levels, medications, nutrition and overall health are all in line to give you the best shot at a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
