Your prenatal care provider will want to see you often while you’re pregnant. This way you and your baby can be monitored closely to prevent any problems. At your checkups, tests like ultrasounds and nonstress tests may be used to check the health of your baby.
Your healthcare provider will let you know how often you need to check your blood sugar, your target numbers, and how to manage your diabetes during your pregnancy. Remember, pregnancy can affect your blood sugar, so what worked for you before your pregnancy may not work now.
Here are some helpful tips to bear in mind when it comes to managing your diabetes during pregnancy.
Tip #1 – Go to all the checkups
Even if you’re feeling great, make sure you go to every prenatal care checkup. Keeping up with these checkups and meeting with your healthcare team is super important. Remember, you’re the most important part of your care team! So it’s important that you stay engaged and show up when you need to.
Tip #2 – Know your new target blood sugar levels
Your doctor can give you personalized blood sugar levels to aim for. However, the recommended target numbers for most pregnant women who have diabetes are as follows[i]:
- 90 or less before meals and overnight
- 130-140 or less an hour after you eat
- 120 or less two hours after you eat
Talk to your healthcare provider about what blood sugar level targets are right for your pregnancy.
Tip #3 – Consider working with a dietitian
Eating healthy is an important part of staying on top of your blood sugars during pregnancy. If you don’t have a dietitian, consider getting one. A good dietitian can help you come up with a healthy meal plan. They’ll also help you learn more about how to control your blood sugar levels while you’re pregnant. Your dietitian can also guide you in determining the right amount of weight you should gain during your pregnancy.
Tip #4 – Exercise regularly
Exercising regularly is another important part of managing diabetes during pregnancy. It’ll help balance out your food intake. Plus, staying active is always a good idea, for both you and your baby. Be sure to check with your doctor to find out what kind of exercise is safe for you while you’re pregnant. Your healthcare team might suggest that you aim for 30 minutes of physical activity five days each week. Swimming and brisk walking are both excellent ideas.
Tip #5 – Handle low blood sugar quickly
While you work hard to keep blood sugar levels managed during pregnancy, you may still encounter low blood sugar at times. If you take insulin or diabetes medication, it’s essential to have a source of fast acting carbohydrate to raise your blood sugar quickly. Glucose tablets, glucose gel, and hard candy are great options. It’s also a good idea to teach close friends, co-workers, and family members how to help you if you have a severe low blood sugar.
Tip #6 – Check your blood sugar often
Blood sugar levels often change quickly during pregnancy and can be a little unpredictable. This is because your body’s needs for energy change when you’re pregnant. It’s important to check your blood sugar often. Ask your doctor how often to monitor your levels. It’s also important to find out how to adjust your medicines, exercise, and food intake based on your blood sugar tests.
Tip #7 – Take medication or insulin as directed by your healthcare provider
Take your diabetes medication or insulin exactly as directed by your doctor. It’s likely you’ll require more insulin or a higher dose of your diabetes pills while you are pregnant, especially later in your pregnancy. Insulin is safe for your baby while you’re pregnant and during labor, so take it as prescribed.
The mySugr website does not provide medical or legal advice. mySugr blog articles are not scientific articles, but intended for informational purposes only.
Medical or nutritional information on the mySugr website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a physician or health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
