Pregnancy, in general, is prone to complications. For mothers with Type-1 diabetes, pregnancy is definitely more difficult, as she needs to continually monitor her blood glucose levels to prevent any potential damage to herself or her baby. In fact, diabetes is found to complicate around 10% of all pregnancies in the United States, of which only 0.2% to 0.5% is Type-1 diabetes patients. For pregnant mothers, specific guidelines need to be followed to keep their pregnancy as healthy as possible. Nevertheless, a number of complications may take place when a woman becomes pregnant while she has Type-1 diabetes.
Anticipated Complications
If a woman is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes before she gets pregnant, her following pregnancy may suffer from a number of complications. These may include developing insulin resistance which occurs due to the hormonal variations that take place during pregnancy. Further worsening of existing diabetic complications is also anticipated as a result of the general weakening of the mother’s body during pregnancy. Moreover, high blood glucose levels during pregnancy may lead to early development of the baby’s organs and hence the early growth of the baby, which may then lead to premature delivery. Certain birth defects have also been reported.
Guidelines and Precautions
Because the complications can be quite severe, pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes need to follow a set of instructions to keep their condition under control. Before becoming pregnant, the woman needs to make sure her blood sugar levels are maintained at the target level by accurately following her insulin therapy. In addition, she needs to regularly check her eyes, kidneys, and nerves for any potential malfunctions. Folic acid tablets are also highly recommended to ensure the health of the baby and reduce the risk of complications. Once pregnant, the mother needs to regularly check her blood glucose levels and keep a continued discussion with her doctor while maintaining a healthy diet.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046748/
https://beyondtype1.org/type-1-pregnancy-risks-minimize/
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/pregnancy
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