As recently as 25 years ago, women with diabetes were told to abandon any hopes of having children. It was considered just too risky for both the mother and her baby.
But today, thanks in no small part to the work of clinicians at the Joslin Diabetes Center (led for many years by Priscilla White, MD, one of the founding members of the Joslin Clinic), dramatic strides have been made to improve the chances of expectant mothers with diabetes and their babies. For a woman who manages her diabetes carefully during pregnancy and has no complications, the outlook today for a successful outcome is 97%–an all time high.
Now, Joslin Diabetes Center is pleased to announce the publication of Staying Healthy with Diabetes — Planning and Managing Your Pregnancy written by Suzanne Ghiloni, RN, BSN, CDE and the staff of Joslin Diabetes Center– reviewed and edited by Florence M. Brown M.D, both part of the Pregnancy Program at Joslin Diabetes Center, a collaborative effort of the Joslin Clinic medical staff and the high-risk maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Staying Healthy with Diabetes — Planning and Managing Your Pregnancy provides comprehensive information for women with diabetes who want to have a baby or who are already pregnant. It also addresses gestational diabetes, which is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.
The book explains the effects of pregnancy on diabetes and of diabetes on pregnancy, how preconception planning can reduce risks to the mother and baby, as well as what one needs to know about glucose management, nutrition and exercise in order to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Labor, delivery and postpartum care are also discussed.\
Staying Healthy with Diabetes — Planning and Managing Your Pregnancy is ideal for anyone looking for accessible information on pregnancy and diabetes. Maybe you or your loved one has diabetes and wants to plan for a baby or maybe you have diabetes and are already pregnant and want to know what to do. This book is also a great resource for the estimated 135,000 women in the United States who each year develop gestational diabetes.
To purchase “Staying Healthy With Diabetes: Planning & Managing Your Pregnancy” visit https://www.joslin.org/jstore/Planning-and-Managing-Your-Pregnancy-with-Diabetes.html
does this include info on type 1 diabetes or is it focused more on gestational and type 2?
Hi Anne. The book focuses on all three: type 1, type 2 and gestational.
I am a diabetic woman and turned 8months pregnant today. May I ask what are type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Can someone explain more on these with the related risks that can cause to both the mother and the baby? and what should I do to avoid these??
Dear Ms. Benson,
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s own immune system starts attacking the beta cells in the pancreas that supply insulin. When you have type 1 you will need insulin for the rest of your life. Type 2 diabetes has a strong genetic and environmental component. Many people get type 2 when they have a family history and also gain weight and become sedentary. If not controlled, both of these types of diabetes can cause problems for the growing fetus. Gestational diabetes is the type of diabetes that starts in pregnancy. Usually when the pregnancy ends, so does the diabetes, although people with gestational diabetes are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. In this type of diabetes, along with the other two, keeping your glucose levels in good control is the most important thing you can do to avoid complications for your baby.
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I have been diabetic(type 1)for 25 years. My last A1c was 8.4. Just found out I’m pregnant and I am so scared. I don’t know what to do bc I really want a child but I want him/her to be healthy. Can anyone give me some advice?
Dear Cynthia,
It is important for you to speak with an ostretrician who is familar with treating patients with diabetes as soon as possible . Getting your blood glucose in control will help you have a healthy pregnancy for you and your unborn child.
i am 34 year old and i am pargent for last 45 days & i am diabetic for last 1 year what can i do for my health & my baby health please write us its safe for me or my child,there will be any problem,
Hi Joslin,
Thanks for the recommendation. I know how difficult pregnancy can be when you have to also focus on your levels – especially with all of the complications associated with pregnancy in the first place!
I’ll definitely check this book out but everyone should, of course, be speaking to their doctors regularly.
Thanks again.
i am a man my age 26 i plan for baby i am daibetec so what is risk for my baby
Dear Mr. Kumar:
The risk for a child developing diabetes when the father has type 1 diabetes is approximattely 10 percent.
My wife and I just found out we’re pargent we’ve had two miscarriages last year. So you can see how scared we are. She just got her H1 level (I believe thats what it is) it was at 5 which she was told was good. She also takes glibiride, because he fasting sometimes are 50-70 or she will awake in the middle of the night with low levels, she was told to take the glibiride with her dinner and a bit later. this morning her fasting was 110 and she ate 2 eggs and tested and it was 220. It hasn’t ever been that high.
My wife watches her levels very closely she tests 6-7 times a day. What would you do in this case and what schedules would you use if you had to give to a patiant.
We really want a child and don’t think we can go through another miscarriage again
From Nora (one of the Joslin Dietitians)
Dear Tim,
An A1C of 5.0 percent is excellent and it is great that your wife checks so often. I am inferring from your note that your wife has type 2 diabetes and is treated with glyburide.
At the Joslin, insulin is used for pregnant women who need medications to control their glucose levels. However, other practices do use oral agents.
It is just as important that your wife not have repeated low blood sugar reactions as it is that she not have high glucose levels. As you know diet and exercise have a serious impact on glucose readings. You may want to ask her obstetrician to recommend a diabetes educator and dietitian who can help your wife develop a meal plan that will control her glucose levels while also providing adequate nourishment for her and the baby.
Best wishes
Dear Tim,
An A1C of 5.0 percent is excellent and it is great that your wife checks so often. I am inferring from your note that your wife has type 2 diabetes and is treated with glyburide.
At the Joslin, insulin is used for pregnant women who need medications to control their glucose levels. However, other practices do use oral agents.
It is just as important that your wife not have repeated low blood sugar reactions as it is that she not have high glucose levels. As you know diet and exercise have a serious impact on glucose readings. You may want to ask her obstetrician to recommend a diabetes educator and dietitian who can help your wife develop a meal plan that will control her glucose levels while also providing adequate nourishment for her and the baby.
Best wishes