What should you be aware of before pregnancy?

If you are a woman with diabetes who is planning a pregnancy, what should you do? The first task is to maintain good blood sugar control prior to pregnancy. Then, once pregnancy occurs, good glucose control should be continued, especially during early pregnancy when organs are developing. High blood sugar and ketones can easily be passed to the baby through the placenta, causing the baby to have a higher risk of deformities. The American Diabetes Association suggests the following glucose targets for women with diabetes who become pregnant:

• Fasting glucose level should be maintained at 60 to 99 mg/dL (3.3 to 5.5 mmol/L)
• Postprandial glucose (1 to 2 hours after a meal) should be maintained at 100 to 129 mg/dL (5.6~8.3mmol/L)
• HbA1C less than 6%

Making pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and postpartum plans can be helpful as well as seeking advise from your medical professionals to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Source | American Diabetes Association