Planning a Baby

By the time you have a positive pregnancy test your baby has already started to develop. During these early weeks your baby could be affected by poor control of your diabetes. This is why it is ideal to plan ahead for your pregnancy.

No surprises!

If you are going to improve your blood glucose control before you become pregnant then effective contraception is a must. Most women with diabetes can choose from the same range of contraceptives as their friends who don't have diabetes. So if you are not taking proper precautions then it is time to talk to your Diabetes Educator or Physician. All of these will be happy to advise you.

Improve your control

One of the best gifts you can give to your baby is a well-controlled blood glucose level before you conceive. If your diabetes is treated with insulin your clinic may suggest you increase the number of injections you take. You may find this makes improving your control much easier to achieve. If your diabetes is treated with tablets DO NOT STOP TAKING THEM UNTIL YOU HAVE CONSULTED YOUR CLINIC. Without your tablets your diabetes will be more difficult to control.

You will need to pay special attention to your diet and if you are overweight you will probably be advised to lose those extra pounds. If weight loss and taking care of what you eat are not enough you may need to start taking insulin injections.

Monitoring for better control

Testing your blood glucose is now even more important. Good decisions are based on good information and you can use your blood testing results to improve your blood glucose levels. For example, you can use your results to help you adjust your insulin dose if necessary - if you seldom change your dose and want to remind yourself what to do, talk to your Diabetes Educator or Physician. When you become pregnant you will find that your insulin dose will change, so use this opportunity to brush up on adjustments and how to do them.

Antenatal care

As soon as you know you are pregnant, tell your PHYSICIAN and Diabetes Care Team who will arrange for you to visit your Obstetrician. Good antenatal care is very important and they will give you all the help you need. You and your partner will be involved in decisions about your care and you will be given the information you want to help you make decisions.

Important Notice: Information provided is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any health care questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to health care issues.

DOC11708-Rev-A 04/08