Pregnancy and diabetes

USA Today had an article "Expectant mothers with diabetes face risky challenge" (by Mary Brophy Marcus) that talks about the challenges of pregnancy and diabetes.

"Almost five out of every 1,000 women ages 18 to 44 have diabetes, according to the CDC. Most have Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity."

If your pregnant daughter had diabetes before she became pregnant, you will hear her doctors use the term "pre-gestational diabetes". If she develops diabetes during pregnancy, you will hear the term "gestational diabetes." Most pregnant women are tested for gestational diabetes around the 28th week of pregnancy. About 4% of pregnant women will develop diabetes during pregnancy.

Diabetes during pregnancy "raises the risk of miscarriage, delivery complications, maternal health problems and birth defects" so make sure that your pregnant daughter gets medical attention as soon as possible during her pregnancy.

Your pregnant daughter may be referred to an endocrinologist, who will run a simple blood test called A1C. This test gives an average blood glucose reading over the last 2-3 months. "In June (2009), Diabetes Care published a study by University of Southern Denmark researchers who found that the risk of serious outcomes increased gradually when A1C levels were above 6.9%. Adverse outcomes doubled when A1C's reached 10.3%, and readings 10.4% or greater quadrupled risks."

So what can your pregnant daughter do? Keep her weight under control. Keep her blood sugar under control. Eat a careful healthy diet as directed by her doctor. Exercise as directed by her doctor. Carefully take any medications prescribed by her doctors.