If You Have Diabetes And Are Pregnant, What Should You Know?
Many women have diabetes and have been able to have successful pregnancies and healthy babies. The trick to having both a successful pregnancy is controlling glucose levels. Pregnancy brings with it a lot of changes in your body, in your diet and in your wardrobe. But, if you are also a diabetes patient, then you must have a series of additional precautions.
Things to know if you have diabetes and are pregnant
What can i eat
Your diet will be essentially the same as before you got pregnant, there will only be one difference, and that is the amount of food you need to consume. Yes, this is normal and all women know it, a pregnancy of a non-diabetic woman is not the same as a pregnancy of a woman who is diabetic. So what you eat and when you should eat it is important.
Women with diabetes should eat three times a day, with three snacks to supplement those meals. In this way they will be able to control their glucose levels well and also, they will feel full all the time. It is important to keep good control to prevent glucose levels from altering. If you have questions about what, when or how much you can eat in your specific case, talk to your doctor. This will be able to recommend an appropriate pharmacological treatment to facilitate glycemic control, as indicated in an article published in the journal “Diabetes Care”.
Take carbohydrates into account
You should be aware of the carbohydrates you are consuming each day. It is even recommended that you restrict them from your diet and eat vegetables, dairy products, fruits, legumes and lean meats with balance. Also, you should keep in mind that the third meal of the day should be just before going to sleep.
Monitoring fiber intake may be a recommended strategy. Ensuring that you consume enough of this nutrient can reduce the impact of sugars in the body, keeping blood glucose levels under control, as stated in a study published in the journal “Science”.
Precautions you should take
It is extremely important that you monitor glucose levels regularly. Doctors also suggest that pregnant women with diabetes check their blood sugar overnight.
You may already be doing this, but others may not, it will depend on the instructions that your doctor has given you. If you normally check your sugar every night, keep doing it . If you don’t, do it from now on. It is important that you make sure that everything is going well during your pregnancy, otherwise you could put your health and that of the baby at risk.
Things you can do
Your doctor will most likely tell you to take your pregnancy in stride, but this doesn’t have to prevent you from getting some exercise during the day. Talk to your doctor to help you create a good daily training plan. In addition, you need to avoid some activities that can cause unnecessary stress on your body, such as:
- Activities that can cause you to fall or receive abdominal injuries.
- Activities that put pressure on the abdomen.
- Scuba diving
- Exercise that is too vigorous or intense.
- Activities with sudden movements or jerks.
What happens to your baby if you have diabetes?
During your pregnancy, you should regulate your glucose levels more strictly. If there are elevated glucose levels during the first trimester, your baby may have a higher risk of malformations.
If you do not control glucose levels during pregnancy, your baby runs the risk of developing macrosomia (a condition where the baby is larger than normal), as well as complications for its metabolism.
A healthy pregnancy with diabetes is possible
All women who have diabetes and are pregnant can rest easy if they control their glucose levels and also follow what their doctor tells them. So if you have diabetes and you are pregnant, do not worry, go to your doctor and allow him to follow you well throughout your pregnancy.
Remember the need to carry out a healthy and varied diet. Prioritizing the consumption of fresh foods over processed foods and restricting the intake of simple sugar will be positive for the disease and for the baby.
