Diabetes Management in Pregnancy

Regularly checking blood sugar levels using a device at home. This helps in managing diabetes during pregnancy.

Blood sugar levels should be within a specific range for a healthy pregnancy. Fasting levels less than 95, post-meal levels less than 120, and nighttime levels above 60 are ideal.

The timing of birth depends on the baby's development and good diabetes control. If everything is fine, it's aligned with the baby's maturity.

The way a baby is born - whether by C-section or naturally - is influenced by blood sugar control, baby's size, complications, and pelvic size.

Counseling before pregnancy is important for women with diabetes. This aims to ensure good blood sugar control for a successful outcome.

Excessive fetal growth caused by increased insulin secretion from the mother.

Increased risk of birth defects in infants of diabetic mothers, especially if hyperglycemia is poorly controlled during the first trimester.

Poor fetal growth due to problems with blood flow to the placenta in diabetic mothers.

Low blood sugar in a newborn due to sudden changes in insulin levels after birth.

A blood test that measures average blood sugar levels over the past three months, indicating how well a diabetic mother has controlled her blood sugar.

When a baby's shoulder gets stuck during delivery, making it difficult for the baby to come out.

Pregnancy may continue until labour starts naturally if the mother has good health and history, and diabetes is well managed.

Fetal monitoring is essential to assess the baby's health during pregnancy. Scalp electrodes are often used to measure fetal scalp blood pH.

A condition that occurs when the mother's blood sugar levels become dangerously high, leading to acidosis.

The placenta may be larger than normal, the umbilical cord thicker, and there may be only one umbilical artery instead of the usual two.

A test used to diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A woman is diagnosed with GDM if she has a fasting glucose level above 95mg/dl or a 1 hour glucose level above 180 mg/dl or a 2 hour glucose level above 155mg/dl or a 3 hour glucose level above 140mg/dl based on venous plasma glucose levels during a 100gm oral glucose tolerance test.

The most common type of diabetes during pregnancy. It occurs when the body can't produce enough insulin or use insulin properly, resulting in high blood sugar levels.

A simple way to keep track of blood sugar levels for women with GDM. They use a small device called a 'reflectance meter'.

Regular checkups with your doctor are essential for women with GDM to monitor the health of the mother and baby. These checkups can help to identify any complications.

A type of diabetes that develops after pregnancy. It happens when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin and the body can't use insulin properly.

A type of diabetes that the mother has before pregnancy. It can be either pre-existing or first detected during pregnancy.

Another way to diagnose gestational diabetes. A 2-hour glucose value above 140mg/dL after a 75gm oral glucose tolerance test.

This classification system is used to categorize pregnant diabetic women based on the onset of diabetes and blood glucose levels. Class A diabetes can develop at any age.

A blood test that measures average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. It provides crucial information about how well a diabetic mom manages her blood sugar throughout pregnancy.

A process where the mother's blood sugar levels are carefully controlled through diet and insulin to keep them close to normal levels throughout pregnancy.

A chronic metabolic disorder characterized by either insulin deficiency or resistance to insulin action.

A state of chronic low-grade inflammation during pregnancy, characterized by increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which contribute to insulin resistance.

A test used to assess the body's ability to handle sugar, particularly during pregnancy, by measuring blood glucose levels after consuming a sugary drink.

A process of regularly checking blood sugar using a home device, especially crucial for managing diabetes in pregnancy.

The presence of glucose in the urine, often due to a lowered renal threshold for glucose during pregnancy.

Excessive fetal growth, often seen in infants of diabetic mothers, potentially linked to increased insulin production.

Impaired fetal growth due to placental blood flow issues in diabetic mothers, potentially impacting nutrient delivery.

Blood sugar levels during pregnancy are harder to regulate due to changes in how the body uses carbohydrates and insulin's effectiveness.

Elevated blood sugar and its adverse effects on both the mother and the baby.

Pregnancy hormones like placental lactogen, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol can interfere with insulin's action, making it harder to regulate blood sugar.

As pregnancy progresses, the body's insulin needs increase to accommodate the growing fetus and its energy requirements.

The mother's body is more likely to develop preeclampsia, a dangerous condition involving high blood pressure and other symptoms, if she has diabetes.

Damage to small blood vessels in the eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), heart (coronary artery disease), and nerves (neuropathy) can worsen during pregnancy.

Babies born to mothers with diabetes are more likely to be larger than average due to increased insulin levels from the mother.

The fetus is at risk for developing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) after birth due to sudden changes in insulin levels.

Diabetic women have an increased risk of having a baby prematurely due to various factors like infection or excess amniotic fluid.

Long periods of fasting, hyperemesis (severe morning sickness), and infections can trigger diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition.