Being pregnant is an amazing stage in life, that requires special care to keep you and your baby healthy. When you have a medical condition, it can cause some stress, which is the last thing you want during those long nine months. New River Women’s Health shares how you can stay healthy while you’re diabetic and pregnant.

Blood Sugar Levels

Your target blood sugar level range may change during your pregnancy because your body changes during pregnancy. Women who don’t have diabetes sometimes develop gestational diabetes while pregnant due to those changes.

From the body needing to make more insulin, to the placental hormones, your body goes through many changes that require you to be extra vigilant.

Pregnancy can cause long-term problems caused from diabetes, such as kidney and eye issues, to worsen. If your blood sugar levels are out of whack before or during your pregnancy, this can also have significant negative side effects for your baby.

The key is to be aware of how important and necessary it is to pay attention to your body, check your blood sugar much more often than you did, and expect that how you currently manage your diabetes will change during pregnancy. Working with your obstetrician and anyone else on your health care team is the first place to start with managing your blood sugar levels.

Exercise, Diet & Stress

It’s crucial for pregnant women who are diabetic to get as much exercise as possible. Exercise, even mild exercise during the last term, can do wonders for maintaining blood sugar levels, balancing blood pressure, and overall well-being.

If you’re not currently working with a dietitian, you definitely want to while you’re pregnant.

Your meals should be very well-planned during pregnancy. You will need to add extra protein, vitamins, and calories, which in turn will also need to be managed in regard to your diabetes and blood sugar levels. Along with changes in your blood sugar ranges, expect and be ready for dietary changes along the way.

Incorporate things into your life that help you to unwind and keep stress levels low, such as prayer or meditation, journaling or writing, drawing, aromatherapy, and anything that helps you to feel good while you’re pregnant. Remember, everything that goes on in your body and everything you feel during pregnancy, your little one is experiencing with you too!

Dr.

Campbell and the team at New River Women’s Health are well-skilled in the care of diabetic pregnancies. To schedule your appointment, contact us at 540-605-7566.

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