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This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about pregnancy. While all expectant mothers need to take care of their health for the sake of their babies, mothers with diabetes need to take extra precautions. It’s especially important for diabetic women to manage their blood sugar during pregnancy. Out-of-control blood sugar can raise the risk for birth defects, cause the baby to grow too large for safe delivery or lead to premature birth.
Dr. Philip Raskin, a diabetes specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says uncontrolled blood sugar can also put mothers at risk for problems, such as causing or worsening diabetes complications or leading to high blood pressure that could cause a seizure or stroke during delivery. Pregnant women with diabetes need to test their blood sugar often, take medications on schedule, exercise and eat a healthy diet.
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May 2007
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