Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy
If you have type 1 diabetes and are planning a pregnancy, you need to plan months in advance to have the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. It's important to have your blood glucose controlled as well as possible before conceiving to minimise the risk to mother and baby. By planning ahead you can make sure you are ready for pregnancy, giving yourself enough time to make important changes.
If you have type 1 diabetes and discover you are pregnant unexpectedly its important to contact your diabetes team and a midwife immediately to ensure your healthcare is appropriately managed.
Here is a pre-pregnancy checklist of things you need to do as you prepare for pregnancy
- See your diabetes healthcare team and GP – let them know your plans.
- Control your blood glucose/HbA1c
- Check your medication
- Check your insulin
- Take a higher dose (5mg) of folic acid
- Have your eyes and kidneys checked
- ask your healthcare team to check your rubella status
- Manage your dental health
- Look at your lifestyle
The diabetes charity the JDRF has a Pregnancy Toolkit that helps explain the best way to achieve a healthy pregnancy for mum and baby and what to expect when you are expecting with type 1 diabetes. The toolkit covers each trimester of pregnancy, helping mums-to-be understand what to expect and how their management of type 1 diabetes will be affected by their growing baby. There is also a helpful pre-pregnancy check list of things you need to think about before trying for a baby. Additional chapters cover the birth and post-pregnancy.