The pregnancy of the diabetic woman requires a very strict control of blood sugar levels during the 9 months of gestation to avoid possible complications.
In addition, she should take a daily supplement of 5 mg folic acid 3 months prior to pregnancy and in the first trimester of pregnancy, a dose well above the 400mcg recommended daily for non-diabetic women.
Cares that the diabetic must have during the pregnancy
The care that the diabetic must have during the pregnancy are, mainly:
- Consult your doctor every 15 days;
- Record daily blood sugar values, as often as your doctor prescribes;
- Take all medications as directed by your doctor;
- Perform the insulin test 4 times a day;
- Examine the glycemic curve every month;
- Perform the examination of the fundus of the eye every 3 months;
- Have a balanced diet low in sugars;
- Take walks regularly, especially after meals.
The better the blood sugar control, the less likely it is for the mother and baby to have problems during pregnancy.
What can happen if diabetes is not controlled
When diabetes is not controlled the mother has more easily infections and can occur pre-eclampsia, which is the increase in pressure that can trigger seizures or coma in the pregnant and even the death of the baby or the pregnant woman.
In uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy, babies, as they are born very large, may have respiratory problems, malformations and be diabetic or obese in adolescents.
Learn more about the consequences for the baby when the mother's diabetes is not controlled in: What are the consequences for the baby, son of a diabetic mother?
How is the birth of diabetic women?
The birth of a diabetic woman usually occurs if the diabetes is controlled, it can be normal or cesarean delivery, depending on how the pregnancy and the size of the baby. However, scarring is usually more time-consuming because too much sugar in the blood makes healing difficult.
When the baby is very large, normal birth is more likely to be injured in the shoulder at birth and the mother will be at greater risk of injury to the perineum, so it is important to advise the doctor for the type of delivery decision.
After birth, babies of diabetic women, as they may develop hypoglycemia, sometimes stay in the neonatal ICU for at least 6 to 12 hours for better medical surveillance.
Here's how to control your blood sugar in:
- When the diabetic should take insulin
- Chamomile tea for diabetes
- Diet for Diabetes