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Tips for Dealing with Diabetes in Pregnant Women

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Diabetes in pregnant women should not be taken lightly and needs to be controlled properly. If left unchecked, rising blood sugar levels can trigger various pregnancy problems. Therefore, it is important for every pregnant woman to know how to deal with diabetes.

During pregnancy, pregnant women are required to always maintain their health. However, it is different for mothers-to-be who have diabetes conditions, either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Tips for Dealing with Diabetes in Pregnant Women - Alodokter

In addition to having to deal with changes in the body, pregnant women with diabetes must also be careful in monitoring and controlling their blood sugar levels.

In fact, there are also types of diabetes that appear when you are pregnant and disappear after the pregnancy is over. This condition is also known as gestational diabetes.

How to deal with diabetes in pregnant women

Although it rarely causes symptoms, diabetes during pregnancy should not be taken lightly because it can cause various pregnancy complications. Therefore, this condition needs to be handled properly so as not to pose a risk to pregnant women and fetuses.

In order to maintain a healthy pregnancy, there are several ways to deal with diabetes in pregnant women, including:

1. Checking blood sugar

Pregnant women diagnosed with diabetes need to have their blood sugar levels checked regularly at least once a month. It aims to control blood sugar levels during pregnancy, assess the success of treatment therapy, and prevent complications.

2. Perform routine pregnancy check-ups

In addition to checking blood sugar, pregnant women with diabetes also need to have regular prenatal checkups, including ultrasound, to monitor the growth and development of the fetus.

In addition, blood tests and urine tests are also important to detect diabetes complications in pregnant women from an early age.

3. Undergo treatment according to doctor’s recommendations

Doctors will provide treatment to pregnant women who suffer from diabetes, either in the form of insulin injections or taking antidiabetic drugs. Make sure pregnant women use the drug as recommended by the doctor.

This is because the use of drugs that are not in the right dose or not taken at the right time can trigger new problems and one of them is hypoglycemia, namely blood sugar levels dropping below normal limits.

The condition of low blood sugar is also dangerous. So, if pregnant women are being treated for diabetes, then experience dizziness, hunger, paleness, tingling, cold sweats, weakness, and even fainting, immediately go to the nearest hospital.

4. Applying a healthy diet

Pregnant women with diabetes should adopt a healthy diet. In order not to make a mistake in adjusting your diet, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about the right eating schedule and what foods can be consumed during pregnancy.

Pregnant women are usually advised to eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains, meat, non-fat dairy products, nuts, fish, and foods that contain folic acid.

In addition, pregnant women are also advised to eat small portions but often, eat on time, and don’t skip breakfast, because this also helps in controlling blood sugar levels and preventing hypoglycemia.

5. Doing exercise regularly

Every pregnant woman with healthy condition is recommended to keep exercising for at least 30 minutes every day, for 5 days a week.

However, for the sake of safety, pregnant women are advised to consult a doctor first to determine the type of exercise that is suitable for pregnant women’s health conditions.

Complications of Diabetes in Pregnant Women

The reason why diabetes in pregnant women must be managed properly is that uncontrolled diabetes can trigger various pregnancy complications, both for pregnant women and babies in the womb. Complications that can occur include:

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and protein-containing urine during pregnancy. This complication cannot be underestimated because if not treated, preeclampsia can develop into eclampsia which is fatal for the mother and fetus in the womb.

Baby born big

Pregnant women who suffer from diabetes are at high risk for giving birth to babies with excess weight or macrosomia. This can make normal delivery difficult, so caesarean delivery is sometimes difficult to avoid.

Baby has hypoglycemia after birth

Babies born to mothers with diabetes are also at risk for hypoglycemia. This condition is characterized by a baby’s blood sugar level that is lower than normal, so it requires intensive care so that the baby’s blood sugar level can be controlled.

Babies born with defects

High and uncontrolled blood sugar levels, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, can cause impaired fetal organ development in the womb.

Therefore, babies born with this condition are at risk for defects, such as defects in the brain, spine, heart, or nervous system.

Babies born prematurely

Diabetes in pregnant women who are not controlled can also increase the risk of the baby being born prematurely. In addition, the risk of miscarriage or the baby dies in the womb can also occur.

Babies are at risk of having health problems later in life

Babies born to mothers with diabetes are also at risk of developing obesity or diabetes later in life. In fact, for some conditions, babies can experience health problems soon after birth, such as heart or respiratory problems.

Although there are many complications of diabetes during pregnancy, diabetes in pregnant women does not always pose a danger as long as blood sugar levels during pregnancy are well controlled.

Therefore, pregnant women who suffer from diabetes are advised to check their pregnancy regularly according to the doctor’s advice. This is so that health during pregnancy is maintained and the delivery process runs smoothly.

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