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Diabetes and pregnancy

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If you have diabetes and have learned that you're pregnant, you'll experience all the emotions that come with having a baby but you'll probably also be concerned about the effect your diabetes could have on you and your child. Because of your diabetes, you'll have extra challenges to deal with during your pregnancy. The most important challenge is keeping your blood sugar under tight control, particularly before becoming pregnant and during the first eight weeks when your baby is developing. You should also:

  • Check your medications. Tablets used to treat type 2 diabetes may harm your baby, so you may have to switch to insulin injections.
  • Take a higher dose of folic acid tablets. Folic acid helps to prevent your baby from developing spinal cord problems. Doctors now recommend that all women planning to have a baby take folic acid. Women with diabetes are advised to take 5mg each day (only available on prescription).
  • Have your eyes checked. Retinopathy, which affects the blood vessels in the eyes, is a risk for all people with diabetes. Pregnancy can place extra pressure on the small vessels in your eyes, so it’s important to treat retinopathy before you become pregnant.
Your GP or diabetes care team can give you further advice. Diabetes UK also provides useful information to help you get your pregnancy off to a healthy start.


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