Plan the pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancies are more common among women with diabetes than among women who do not have diabetes.. It is very important for a woman with diabetes to get her body ready before she becomes pregnant.
See her doctor. Her doctor needs to look at the effects that diabetes has had on her body already, talk with her about getting and keeping control of her blood sugar, change medications if needed, and plan for frequent follow-up.
Eat healthy foods from a meal plan made for her as a person with diabetes. If a woman is overweight, she might try to lose weight before getting pregnant as part of her plan to get her blood sugar in control. Talking with a dietitian can help her plan a good diet for a person with diabetes, especially if she plans to lose weight before she gets pregnant.
Exercise regularly. Exercise is another way to keep blood sugar under control. Exercise helps to balance food intake. A woman should begin a regular exercise plan before she gets pregnant and stick with the exercise plan both while she is pregnant and after the baby comes.
Monitor blood sugar often . Because pregnancy causes the body’s need for energy to change, blood sugar levels can change very quickly. A pregnant woman with diabetes needs to check her blood sugar more often, sometimes 6 to 8 times a day, which might be higher than when she is not pregnant. Checking blood sugar levels often can help a woman keep her blood sugar in control.
Take medications on time. If insulin is ordered by a doctor, a pregnant woman with diabetes should take it when it’s needed. She should know how to adjust food intake, exercise, and insulin, depending on the results of her blood sugar tests, to keep the blood sugar in the range of tight control. .
Control and treat low blood sugar quickly . Keeping tight blood sugar control can lead to a chance of low blood sugar at times. A pregnant woman with diabetes should have a ready source of carbohydrates, such as glucose tablets or gel, on hand at all times.
Follow-up with the doctor regularly. A pregnant woman with diabetes needs to see her doctor more often than does a pregnant woman without diabetes. Together, the woman can work with her doctor to prevent or catch problems early.