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\nIf you are a woman with diabetes, you still can have a healthy baby. You need to take extra care before and during your pregnancy. Learn how to get ready for a healthy pregnancy.
\n\u201cI feel like I should change the title to \u2018Being Diabetic with Pregnancy,\u2019 because it seemed like I was a diabetic first and foremost who just happened to be pregnant. I knew less about my pregnancy than I did about my numbers.
\n\u201cI was diagnosed diabetic three months before becoming pregnant and was just learning about diabetes and how it affected my body when I found out I was pregnant. I was ecstatic! I was overjoyed! Until I went to the fertility doctor who told me, \u2018You need to be in control of your diabetes. Your numbers need to be better or your child will have birth defects.\u2019 I was in shock. I had been trying to have a baby for three years and was hoping to enjoy the happy news for a little while.
\n\u201cWhat I learned is that diabetes is not a joke; it is a disease that you have to think about every minute of every day.\u201d
\n\u201cShortly after, I visited my OB and realized I would have to work hard to manage my diabetes during pregnancy. I gave myself insulin four times a day and checked my sugar four times a day. I tracked these numbers and called the OB\u2019s office every day with the information. If I got busy or forgot, the office called me.
\n\u201cWith all the stress, I finally felt I was doing right by my baby when my initial appointment for an ultrasound of the baby\u2019s heart had to be rescheduled. They could not get me in for several weeks so I asked if I really needed the test being nearly full term. The doctor said that because I kept my diabetes under control, I was at the same risk as any other pregnant women. I was finally able to take a deep breath and know that I did the best I could for my baby.
\n\u201cMy beautiful, healthy baby boy was delivered at 39 weeks. There were no problems. He was perfect! But what I learned is that diabetes is not a joke; it is a disease that you have to think about every minute of every day. And when you are pregnant, you have to worry what it\u2019s now doing to you and to your baby. For me, it didn\u2019t go away after the baby was born, so now I have to think about my diabetes every minute of every day so I can raise my baby, teach him a healthy lifestyle in hopes he does not get diabetes, and, most of all, I want to be here when he has children.\u201d
\nCDC would like to thank Erin for sharing her personal story.
\nControlling your diabetes before and during your pregnancy will help prevent such problems as birth defects, prematurity, miscarriage, and stillbirth.
\nEven if you have kept your blood sugar in good control before you get pregnant, it can be harder to keep control during pregnancy. But, it\u2019s important to do your best! The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says you should try to keep your blood sugar above 70 mg/dL and below these levels:
\n\n | ACOG Recommendations | \nThe Levels My Doctor Recommends | \n
---|---|---|
Before meals | \n95 mg/dL or lower | \n\n |
1 hour after eating | \n130 mg/dL or lower | \n\n |
2 hours after eating | \n120 mg/dL or lower | \n\n |
Blood Sugar is measured in milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL)
\nYour doctor might recommend different blood sugar levels. Ask your doctor to write in the chart above the levels you should have.
\nView and print Blood Sugar Levels chart [1.3 MB]
\nYour blood sugar is high when the numbers are 130 mg/dL or higher. High blood sugar can
\nYour blood sugar is low when the numbers are 70 mg/dL or less. Low blood sugar is also called hypoglycemia (hi-poh-gli-see-me-ah). Low blood sugar can
\nIf you notice any of these signs or symptoms, check your blood sugar. If it is low, chewing 3-4 glucose tablets is best. If you don\u2019t have glucose tablets, eat or drink a source of quick sugar\u2014like 4 ounces of fruit juice or soft drink (not diet). Check your blood sugar again in 15 minutes. If it\u2019s not better, eat or drink a source of quick sugar again. When you
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