Best Way To Care And Control Blood Sugar Level In Pregnancy

If you are planning for a family, learn how to take care of your blood sugar before and during pregnancy so you can have a healthy baby, whether you had diabetes before you got pregnant or you developed diabetes during your pregnancy. Tight blood glucose control, helps to ensure the best chance of a successful pregnancy and can avoid long-term health problems for both you and baby. For that, you will need to keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels.

WHAT IS Normal Blood sugar in pregnancy?

TIME	AMOUNT
Fasting (Before meal)	Less than 95 mg/dl
2 hours after meal	Less than 120 mg/dl
A1c	Less than or around 6.0%

WHAT IS GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

It is temporary diabetes develop during pregnancy known as diabetes. It happens in about 3 in 100 to 9 in 100 pregnant women.

What are the symptoms?

Nondiabetic pregnant women are being tested for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, as there are no common symptoms of gestational diabetes. Most women do not know they have it until they are get tested

• causes of BLOOD SUGAR DURING PREGNANCY

It occurs when cells become resistant to the action of insulin; it is very natural caused during pregnancy.  An organ “placenta” gives growing baby nutrients and oxygen. The placenta also makes hormones. In late pregnancy, the Estrogen hormone, cortisol hormone, and human placental lactogen can block insulin. When insulin is blocked, Glucose cannot go into the body’s cells is known as insulin resistance. Your body cannot make enough insulin or stops using insulin. The glucose stays in the blood and makes the blood sugar levels go up.

• Overweight and obesity; i.e., a body mass index (BMI) of 25
• Having gestational diabetes or insulin resistance in the past
• Experiencing an unexplained stillbirth or a birth defect in a previous pregnancy
• If any immediate family member (parents or siblings) suffering from diabetes
• Have had gestational diabetes before
• Having a previous birth of a large baby (9 pounds or more)
• Having any health issue like heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol
• Very less physical activity

How blood sugarcane Monitoring In PREGNANCY:

For every type of diabetes, if you are pregnant you need to see your doctor at least once a month, perhaps as often as once a week.

You may need to test your blood several times a day. Generally, these times are fasting (first thing in the morning before you eat) and 2 hours after each meal. Occasionally, you may be asked to test more frequently during the day or at night. As each person is an individual, your health care provider can advise the schedule best for you.

HOW DOES DIABETES AFFECT THE BABY?

• Large Birth Weight: Birth injury may occur due to the baby's large size and difficulty being born
• Premature Birth
• Rebound Hypoglycemia
• Electrolyte ImbalancesCongenital Malformation
• Type 1 diabetes often occurs in children or young adults, but it can start at any age.

• Birth defects:  Birth defects are more likely in babies of diabetic mothers. Some birth defects are serious enough to cause stillbirth. Birth defects usually occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. Babies of diabetic mothers may have major birth defects in the heart and blood vessels, brain and spine, urinary system and kidneys, and digestive system.
• Macrosomia: This is the term for a baby that is much larger than normal. All of the nutrients the baby gets comes directly from the mother's blood. If the mother's blood has too much sugar, the pancreas of the baby makes more insulin to use this glucose. This causes fat to form and the baby grows very large.   
• Hypoglycemia: The baby may have low levels of blood glucose right after delivery. This problem occurs if the mother's blood glucose levels have been high for a long time. This leads to a lot of insulin in the baby’s blood. After delivery, the baby continues to have a high insulin level, but no longer has the glucose from the mother. This causes the newborn's blood glucose level to get very low. The baby's blood glucose level can check after birth. If the level is too low, the baby may need glucose in an IV.
• Trouble respiratory:  Too much insulin or too much glucose in a baby's system may keep the lungs from growing fully. This can cause breathing problems in babies. This is more likely in babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
• Preeclampsia: Women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for preeclampsia during pregnancy. To lower the risk, they should take low-dose aspirin (60 to 150 mg a day) from the end of the first trimester until the baby is born.

The mother might have:

• A higher chance of needing a C-section
•  Miscarriage
•  High blood pressure or preeclampsia
• Pre-term birth

PREVENTION for BLOOD SUGAR DURING PREGNANCY:

There are many things that can do to keep your blood sugar level from turning into a roller coaster. Lifestyle changes are not always easy, but the payoff is so worth it. For 80 percent of women with gestational diabetes, lifestyle changes will keep blood sugar levels close to normal.

Maintain a healthy weight

Ideally, you will start your pregnancy at a healthy weight, which is a BMI of less than 25. If you are overweight when you become pregnant, be sure to consult with your health-care professional, that how much weight gain is reasonable during your pregnancy. Start pregnancy at a healthy weight. If you are planning to get pregnant, losing extra weight beforehand may help you have a healthier pregnancy. Focus on making lasting changes to your eating habits that can help you through pregnancy, such as eating more vegetables and fruits.

Eat healthy food

Good nutrition can help prevent or control diabetes. Eating regular meals and snacks helps keep your blood sugar level steady. Three major meals and 2-3 snacks are recommended for pregnant women.

Although there’s no "ideal" diet, recommendations for pregnant women consist of at least 2.5 ounces (70 grams) of protein daily, the least amount of six ounces (175 grams) of complex carbohydrates (from vegetables and fruits), and at least one ounce (28 grams) of fiber. Avoid simple carbohydrates like candy, sugary sodas, cookies, cakes, and baked goods. Working with your health-care A professional or a registered dietician will help you figure out an optimal meal and snack plan.

Keep yourself more active

Another key to preventing diabetes is regular physical activity, such as walking. The recommendations for pregnant women are not any different from the standard advice for adults – get 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days of the week; i.e., about 150 minutes weekly. It is also a good idea to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting still – get up and move around every 30 minutes or so.

Get regular prenatal checks

These checks can help you and your health-care professional find problems early. If you are taking insulin for gestational diabetes, then your health-care professional might recommend weekly testing starting at 32 weeks' gestation to keep closer track of your baby's health.

If you are pregnant and have type 1 diabetes, your doctor might sometimes ask you to check your blood sugar in the middle of the night, around 3 a.m. You should check your fasting urine ketones every day, too.