Manage diabetes during pregnancy: Experts

C Pradeep Kumar
Vijayawada

Diabetes can have an impact on pregnant women, and the health of the unborn child, according to experts. Maintaining regular blood sugar (glucose) levels throughout the pregnancy will help prevent issues. Women, who already have diabetes and are planning for pregnancy or who are pregnant, should know that high blood sugar that develops or is initially diagnosed as gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.

Dialectologists say that if diabetes is not properly managed, the unborn child will have high blood sugar levels while in the womb. Baby health issues and birth deformities may result from this. The organ development of a foetus occurs in the first seven weeks of pregnancy. This frequently occurs before women become pregnant. Therefore, it’s crucial to prepare by ensuring that blood glucose levels are within the normal range before becoming pregnant. Dr Giridhar Adapa, en endocrinologist, says that every day, a pregnant woman requires an additional 300 calories.

However, it matters where these calories come from. You must eat a range of healthful foods for a balanced diet. It is advised to consume a large number of whole fruits and veggies, lean proteins and healthy fats in balance, and moderate amounts of starchy vegetables like maize and peas together with whole grains like bread, cereal, pasta, and rice. There should be fewer sugary foods such as soft drinks, fruit juices, and pastries.

He said one should contact the doctor for the following diabetes-related issues during pregnancy — if you are unable to maintain the ideal range of blood sugar if there seems to be less movement of the baby inside the womb, if objects are seen hazily and if one feels thirstier than usual and continues to feel nauseous.

It’s natural to have anxiety or depression due to having diabetes while pregnant. Call your physician if these feelings are consuming you, though. You can get assistance from your medical team, he added.