Many women face the problem of diabetes during pregnancy. There are three types of diabetes, but no matter which you have; you will have to take a few steps to have a healthy pregnancy. It is important for pregnant women with diabetes to keep going in for regular check-ups from the best fertility centre in Chennai as they will require more prenatal care than the average pregnant woman.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is the abnormal elevation of blood sugar and glucose levels in a person. There are times when a person’s blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes.
When pregnant women are diagnosed with diabetes, it is known as gestational diabetes. This is not an uncommon phenomenon and occurs due to the hormonal changes that are part of pregnancy.
When Are You Recommended to Take An Insulin Shot during Pregnancy?
If your blood sugar still does not drop after a change in diet and exercise, then your doctor is more likely to prescribe insulin shots. These shots help to keep both mother and child healthy and safe, as they are meant to regulate the glucose levels in the blood. Here are the things that will need to be considered when prescribing insulin during pregnancy:
- The stage of the pregnancy
- The mother’s weight
- The mother’s diet
- The results of the latest blood sugar level test
Insulin Changes in Pregnancy
Early Pregnancy
All the hormonal and physical changes that take place during early pregnancy make it quite difficult to keep the ideal blood glucose levels. Your glucose levels will be unstable for the first six to eight weeks of pregnancy, and then they start to decrease for the rest of the first trimester. This is when you are most likely to need to adjust your insulin intake. Be very sure not to miss any meals and snacks.
Mid to Late Pregnancy
As your pregnancy hormones rise, so does your need for more insulin. By 30 weeks, your requirements may be twice as much as your pre-pregnancy dose. You will most likely need fast acting meal-time insulin.
By 36 weeks, your insulin requirement is most likely to remain steady or drop just a little, but if you start to notice your requirement dropping a lot, you are most likely having problems, so do contact your doctor from the best fertility hospital in Chennai.
Right Dosage of Insulin for Pregnant Women
When it comes to the dosage of insulin in pregnancy, you and your doctor will need to work together, as the need for insulin will change as the baby grows.
Your blood sugar will need to be checked several times a day so that it can be established whether or not the insulin you have been prescribed is working effectively. Your dosage will be adjusted according to blood sugar levels.
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Your glucose will need to be checked before and after meals, before bedtime, and early in the morning.
- With an increase in the levels of progesterone, there is a need for more insulin.
- After the first month of pregnancy, the level of progesterone increases until the placenta takes over for the ovaries when it comes to producing progesterone.
- At around three months, the progesterone level falls, and the need for insulin also drop. During this time, pregnant women are monitored regularly, and a lower dosage of insulin is required.
- This lasts for around eight days, after which the levels of progesterone increases and results in an increase in the dosage of insulin.
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Your carbohydrate intake will most likely need to be reduced as Type 2 Diabetes patients often have intolerance to it.
- Regular monitoring will be required, and the dose of insulin required will be adjusted according to the results.
Possible Side Effects of Taking Insulin in Pregnancy
Most of the time, taking insulin for gestational diabetes while pregnant is only prescribed if you are unable to get your blood sugar levels under control through exercise and diet. If you ensure to keep monitoring your levels, you can minimize the chances of dealing with the side effects.
- Shaking
- Racing heart
- Swelling of the face
- Tingling in the tongue and lips
- Puffiness in lips, tongue, and throat
- If your insulin levels were not adjusted at the end of the first trimester when the drop in progesterone levels occurred, you are more at risk of developing low blood sugar. This can also happen if you skip meals.
There are many women, who have to battle diabetes during their pregnancies each year, and they end with favorable results, and they have happy and healthy babies. The key is managing the levels of glucose by eating balanced and healthy meals, and keeping up with your exercise. It is important for you to keep track of your blood sugar at home and not only depend on hospital visits to do so.
