Does Diabetes Affect Pregnancy?

Diabetes management is crucial when considering becoming pregnant. Diabetes left uncontrolled before and during pregnancy, whether type 1 or type 2, can have significant effects. Unmonitored Diabetes can cause the baby’s blood sugar to rise, increasing the possibility of Birth Defects and other problems during delivery. If you have Diabetes and are pregnant or planning to be soon, visit our obgyn in New Hyde Park and book a consultation appointment.

Possible Complications in Pregnancy from Diabetes

Birth Defects in the brain, spine, and heart
Premature Birth
Miscarriage or Stillbirth
Preeclampsia – A condition characterized by high blood pressure in pregnant women. It is more common for people who already have Diabetes. The consequences can be a preterm birth and other problems during delivery, such as seizures or stroke during labor.
Hypoglycemia – A condition where the blood sugar levels are too low, which can result in breathing and feeding problems for the baby.
Extra Large Baby – This can occur when the mother has high blood sugar during pregnancy. It can create an uncomfortable pregnancy for the mother and often requires a C-section delivery.

Diabetes left untreated during pregnancy can cause many difficulties and result in an unpleasant pregnancy due to the combination of diabetes-related and pregnancy-related symptoms.

Recommendations for Managing Diabetes During Pregnancy

Monitor your blood sugar regularly
- Consistently monitoring your blood sugar will make you and your doctor aware of any concerns immediately, so you can make the appropriate adjustments and get the proper treatment if necessary to prevent any complications.
Take diabetes medication and insulin as directed by your doctor.
Eat a healthy diet
- Include a good portion of dietary fiber in your diet to help lower your blood sugar.
- Limit intake of sweets
Exercise regularly
See your obgyn often throughout the pregnancy and even earlier if you plan to become pregnant in the future.

If you are looking for the right doctor to care for you and your baby, visit our obgyn in New Hyde Park at Women4Women Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy

Gestational Diabetes is when a woman, who did not previously have Diabetes, develops it during pregnancy. Less than 10% of women will get Gestational Diabetes, and most women will recover after their pregnancy. However, there is a higher risk that Gestational Diabetes will lead to type 2 diabetes after pregnancy.

To avoid developing Type 2 Diabetes, monitoring blood sugar levels and health in the following years will be crucial. A proper diet and good exercise practices are the best way to manage Gestational Diabetes and prevent it from developing further after pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes may develop undetected, so it is essential to see your obgyn often during the pregnancy to prevent any hidden ailments from progressing into more critical problems later. Some symptoms indicating Gestational Diabetes are frequent urination and excessive thirst. These are also some risk factors to look out for:

Overweight
Family History of Diabetes
Previous Stillbirth
Advanced Maternal Age

The complications associated with Gestational Diabetes are very similar to those of types 1 and 2. They include:

Preeclampsia
Hypoglycemia
Extra Large Baby
Higher probability of needing a C-section delivery

If you are concerned about these complications, our obgyn in New Hyde Park can help you manage your Gestational Diabetes throughout pregnancy and after.

Next Steps

If you are pregnant and concerned about Diabetes, we recommend visiting your obgyn often during the pregnancy to monitor and ensure the best care for you and your baby. Our board-certified doctors at Women4Women Obstetrics and Gynecology would love to help you on this journey. To find out more about our services, visit our website to learn more or book an appointment.