Pregnancy brings with a host of changes to the body, and those with diabetes need to be especially aware of the risks of being pregnant. Pregnancy can have an impact on blood sugar levels as well as medications. It’s important for women to understand the risks to themselves and their child before they become pregnant.
Before you even become pregnant, you should consider a preconception consultation with the best diabetes doctor in Los Angeles. Contact Dr. Gura and his team to get all your questions answered.
Ask Dr. Gura if your diabetes is controlled enough for you to stop birth control along with taking a hemoglobin blood test to get a picture of the last eight to twelve weeks of your sugar levels. There are other tests that can be done to make sure you are in good enough shape and have your diabetes under control including: a urinalysis to look for any kidney issues, blood tests to look at cholesterol, triglycerides and to make sure your kidneys and liver are working as they should be, an eye exam to look for glaucoma, cataracts or retinopathy, and a foot exam.
It is critically important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels during pregnancy because elevated levels before the 13-week mark can cause birth defects and can increase the risk of miscarriage and other diabetes-related complications. Since many women don’t even realize they are pregnant for the first two to four weeks, it is imperative that blood sugar levels are under control before conception.
The ideal range for blood sugar levels is 70 to 100 mg/dL before meals, less than 120 mg/dL two hours after eating and 100 to 140 mg/dL before your bedtime snack.
Women with diabetes often deliver large babies due to the babies getting too much sugar through the placenta because mom’s sugar levels are just too high. The baby’s pancreas compensates but making more insulin and that extra sugar gets converted to fat which produces a large baby.
Most hospitals will closely monitor babies of diabetic mothers for several hours after birth to determine whether the baby needs glucose to balance out their blood sugar. If the mother has consistently high blood sugar levels while pregnant, the baby’s sugar levels can drop dangerously low right after birth because their insulin is based on mom’s high sugar. The baby’s calcium and magnesium levels can be off as well, so doctors will monitor for those changes and adjust with necessary medication. Proper insulin control and changing what you eat can help diabetic moms to control blood sugar levels and make sure the pregnancy goes as smoothly as possible. Check with your doctor to develop a plan that can help you maintain optimum health during your pregnancy.
Having routine health screenings is important for maintaining optimal health. Dr. Victor Gura is skilled in diagnosing and managing pregnant patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, helping them to stay as healthy as possible and reducing their risk of complications.
Dr. Gura is a world-renowned and board-certified internist and nephrologist. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases and dialysis technology. Dr. Gura offers treatment options for diabetes, high blood pressure, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease and proteinuria. If you are suffering from diabetes and living in Los Angeles, book your consultation with Dr. Gura today.
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