Insulin injections for pregnant women with diabetes: What you need to know

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Gestational diabetes occurs when the body is unable to respond to the increased demand for insulin resulting in high blood sugar. Gestational diabetes needs to be controlled through monitoring blood sugar levels, adopting a healthy diet, and performing regular physical activity. About 10-20% of pregnant women with diabetes need extra insulin injections for better blood sugar control.

1. What is gestational diabetes?

Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) appears to signal a problem with insulin in the body. Insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into the body's cells where it is converted into energy. Gestational diabetes is diabetes first detected in pregnant women. Some women with gestational diabetes may have had mild diabetes before pregnancy that went undetected.
When the body does not produce enough insulin or does not respond to it, glucose cannot enter cells and instead remains in the blood. This leads to an increase in blood glucose levels over time. High blood sugar can damage the body and cause serious health problems like heart disease and kidney disease.

2. Does gestational diabetes affect pregnancy?

If diabetes is not well monitored and regulated, there is an increased risk of diabetes-related complications. Here are possible problems in women with diabetes:
Birth defects High blood pressure Polyhydramnios – An increase in amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus, which can lead to was born prematurely or had difficulty giving birth. Large fetus – The fetus receives too much sugar from the mother leading to its growth. A large pregnancy can make delivery more difficult and even increase the risk of having a cesarean section. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes may have breathing problems, low blood sugar, and jaundice. Most babies are fine after birth, although some may need special care after birth. Good prenatal care and tight control of sugar will help reduce the risk of these problems.
2.1 Causes Gestational diabetes is caused by a change in the insulin response of a pregnant woman's body during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar out of the blood and into the body's cells, where it can be converted into energy.
During pregnancy, a woman's cells naturally become mildly resistant to the effects of insulin. This change is intended to increase the mother's blood sugar level to provide more nutrients to the baby. The mother's body makes more insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal. In a small number of women, even this increase is not enough to keep their blood sugar within normal limits. As a result, they develop gestational diabetes.

2.2 People at risk for gestational diabetes are more likely to be in women:
Older than 25 years of age Obese, overweight Have had gestational diabetes in the past Have had a very large baby Have a relative with diabetes Had a stillbirth in a previous pregnancy Be African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, Latino, or Pacific Islander 2.3 Controlling gestational diabetes with Insulin To treat, Pregnant women may not need to use medication to treat gestational diabetes, but only need to control blood sugar disorders by closely following a special diet and exercise plan. In addition, your doctor may prescribe oral medication or insulin to help lower blood sugar levels.
Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas normally secretes. The type of insulin that people use to treat diabetes is called synthetic insulin. The aim of insulin therapy is to lower the blood sugar levels of a person with gestational diabetes to the same level as that of a normal woman.
The doctor will instruct how to inject insulin (verified as safe for the fetus) and the patient will have to inject it several times a day. In addition, pregnant women also need to pay attention to arrange a healthy diet. To do this, pay attention to your carbohydrate intake (such as sugars and flours) and use foods that, when eaten, have little effect on blood sugar levels, such as whole grains, beans and vegetables.

3. Is it okay to inject insulin while pregnant?

Gestational diabetes when to inject insulin? Insulin is an effective treatment, but insulin injections during pregnancy require careful monitoring. Pregnant women need to have their blood sugar tested at least 4 times a day (using a home blood glucose test kit) and note down the results.
In addition, the patient also needs to keep a record of the amount of insulin used. In general, insulin requirements for pregnant women increase as pregnancy progresses. If treatment is effective, blood sugar levels should be within normal limits. Even so, blood sugar levels can change rapidly throughout pregnancy. So even if the patient is having good results, it is still necessary to continue to check the blood sugar level as advised by the doctor.
If the pregnant woman feels fine and the doctor is satisfied with the results of the blood sugar test, this is a sign of peace of mind because the treatment is going very well.
Gestational diabetes can cause your baby to grow more than usual, so your doctor will likely have to check your baby's growth regularly. You may need to have an ultrasound to determine your baby's size.
If medication is needed to control blood sugar, you'll need to have a fetal nonstress test around 32 weeks of pregnancy. This is a safe test that helps your doctor check for signs to see if your baby is getting enough blood from the placenta.
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal care visits, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively.
Pregnant women will be consulted and checked for health under the close supervision of experienced and specialized Obstetricians, helping mothers have more knowledge to protect their health during pregnancy as well as reduce reduce complications for mother and child.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.