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Diabetes Is Not So Sweet
Diabetes During Pregnancy
By Crystal Patriarche
"Women who are already diabetic and become pregnant also have to watch for complications that already exist as a result of the diabetes like kidney disease, blood pressure problems or cardiovascular disease," Ellis says. "They need to have an initial work-up including monitoring of EKG, blood pressure and kidneys."
Because diabetic women are usually already on a good diet, there is typically no real modification there. However, insulin requirements will change with pregnancy and adjustments may be needed. The pregnancy will be followed very carefully through serial ultrasounds in order to closely monitor the baby's growth, Dr. Evans says.
Gestational diabetes, one of the most common complications of pregnancy, usually develops during the second half of pregnancy because hormones interfere with the body's ability to use insulin.
"Gestational diabetes can also be managed successfully with diet and frequent blood sugar monitoring," Dr. Evans says. She says those who develop it usually have a family history or previous history of gestational diabetes.
Screening for gestational diabetes is done around 26 weeks of pregnancy by a blood glucose test.
"I had to drink a glucose soution and have my blood drawn after one hour to check blood sugar levels," says Julie Benson of Hampshire, Ill. "Because I had high results on the one hour test, I was required to go in for a longer three-hour test. Again, the results of this test were elevated, which indicated I had gestational diabetes."
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