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Diabetes in Women

Diabetes in Women

The Diabetology services at BirthRight by Rainbow Hospitals provide personalized and specialized care for a woman with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. Pregnancy and diabetes can be a cause for other complications during the pregnancy. We also help women who have a risk of diabetes being developed during their pregnancy. Our team is always available to help women not just during pregnancy, but before it and after the delivery of the baby as well.

We aim to help pregnant women with diabetes maintain normal levels of blood glucose or sugar, thus lowering the risk of any complication related to diabetes being developed. The care of each individual woman is unique and special. Dealing with both pregnancy and diabetes can be difficult. However, a lot depends on you individually for managing your diabetes and our diabetology team at BirthRight by Rainbow Hospitals is here to help you.

We have a team of diabetes doctors or endocrinologists, nurse educators, physiotherapists, and dietitians who will work closely with you and your obstetrician throughout your pregnancy. Our diabetology team helps you with :

- Learning about your diabetic condition & becoming confident of its management
- Having fewer complications related to diabetes for you & your baby

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Lifestyle-related Cancers: What we need to know

Dr. Pranathi Reddy

Clinical Director – Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Rainbow Children's Hospital, Banjara Hills

2022-06-19

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Leading Diabetes in Women Hospitals

FAQs
What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as just diabetes, is an issue with insulin. Insulin is responsible for moving glucose from the blood into the cells of your body, where it can be converted into energy. If diabetes is present before the woman gets pregnant, it is called pregestational diabetes mellitus. When sufficient insulin isn’t made by the body or if the body doesn’t respond to the available insulin, it prevents glucose from getting into the cells. This results in the glucose staying in the blood and its levels increase. If glucose levels in the body continue to be high over time, it can potentially be damaging to the body, causing health problems like kidney disease, heart disease, and vision problems.

What effect does pregestational diabetes mellitus have on my pregnancy?

Without proper management of diabetes, there is a higher risk of numerous complications associated with diabetes., including:

Birth defects
High blood pressure
Hydramnios: This is a condition in which the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus has a high amount of amniotic fluid content. It can result in preterm delivery and labor.
Macrosomia or extremely large fetus: As a result of receiving excessive glucose from the mother, the fetus can grow excessively large. Delivery becomes more difficult when the fetus is large. There is also an increased risk of needing a C-section in the case of a large fetus.
Diabetes during pregnancy can be managed by medications, exercise and multiple other ways. Your doctor can guide on the options available according to your case.

What effect does pregestational diabetes mellitus have on my baby?

When mothers have pregestational diabetes, their babies may be born with problems like low glucose levels, jaundice, and breathing troubles. Most of the babies end up being healthy, although they may have to be kept in our NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for a while. Fortunately, the risk of these issues can be reduced if you plan and control your diabetes properly. Uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy can be harmful for you and your baby. Consult your doctor if you think you are pregnant and have diabetes.

How is exercising helpful with diabetes during pregnancy?

Exercising helps maintain a normal range of blood glucose levels and offers other benefits as well, including weight control, energy boost, help with sleeping and reducing constipation, bloating and backaches.

How to control my diabetes when I am pregnant?

Controlling your glucose levels requires a combination of consuming the right foods, taking the required medication and exercising. You should consult with our diabetologists regarding the same. We will schedule prenatal visits regularly, where your glucose levels will be checked along with other tests.

What effect does diabetes have on labor and delivery?

It is possible for labor to be induced earlier, particularly if pregnancy problems arise. We will monitor your glucose levels closely and frequent when you are in labor. There may be a need for receiving insulin through an IV line. Insulin pumps can be used during labor as well.

Do I need to inform my doctor about my diabetes if I am planning to become pregnant?

Yes. Your healthcare provider will help you control the levels of glucose in your body before you conceive. It is essential that you control the glucose levels because birth defects caused due to high glucose levels tend to happen when the organs of the baby are developing in the initial eight weeks of pregnancy. It may happen that you don’t even know you are pregnant during that time. To keep your glucose level under control, you may need to change your diet, medication, and exercise. Informing your doctor about your pregnancy and diabetes will be the best course of action to ensure your and your baby’s health and safety.

What effect does my diet have on my pregnancy?

Having a healthy and well-balanced diet is always crucial when you are pregnant since the growth and nourishment of your fetus is dependent on the food you consume. The importance of diet is even greater in case the woman has diabetes. If you don’t eat properly, the blood glucose level can get too low or too high, which can have adverse effects. Your diet will directly affect your pregnancy and diabetes. A good diet will ensure that diabetes will have a minimal impact on your pregnancy.

Can I breastfeed my baby if I have diabetes?

For women having diabetes, breastfeeding is highly recommended. It gives healthy nutrition to the baby and is good for the mother too.

Is my glucose level affected by my pregnancy?

When women who have diabetes get pregnant, they are more likely to have hypoglycemia or low levels of blood glucose. This can happen if you don’t consume adequate food, don’t eat timely meals, skip a meal or work out too much. Some symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, sudden hunger, feeling shaky, weakness, or sweating. You should know what to do when these symptoms show up.

Should I continue taking diabetes medications during pregnancy?

Your insulin dosage from before getting pregnant is likely to increase when you are pregnant. Using insulin during pregnancy is safe and it doesn’t cause any birth defects. If you use an insulin pump, you will probably be able to continue doing so. In some cases, you may need to switch to insulin shots. If you use oral medications normally for managing diabetes, your doctor may recommend a change in dosage or a switch to insulin when you get pregnant. Diabetes during pregnancy can easily be managed if you start care right from the beginning of your pregnancy.

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