Diabetes Care During a Hospital Stay: Diabetes Head to Toe Book Excerpt
Ask our Physician
December 20, 2018
Contributor: Dr. Rita Kalyani, MD, MHS
Contributor: Dr. Rita Kalyani, MD, MHS
Contributor: Dr. Rita Kalyani, MD, MHS
Contributor: Frank Lavernia, MD
Contributor: Dr. Rita Kalyani, MD, MHS
Contributor: Dr. Rita Kalyani, MD, MHS
Most people with diabetes, at some time, experience the symptoms that occur when blood glucose levels fall below normal—a condition known as hypoglycemia. For many people with diabetes, the symptoms of hypoglycemia start to occur at a level of 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or less, but this level may differ for each person.
What You Need to Know
Contributor: Frank Lavernia, MD
Contributor: Frank Lavernia, MD
Dear Dr. Nicholson: During my pregnancy, I seem to have appointments with my medical team every week! Who are all these doctors? What are all the tests they have been scheduling? Are they looking for something in particular?
Diabetes is a serious condition and in pregnancy, diabetes affects two patients: the expectant mother and the baby. Taking care of two patients can require extra medial visits. Expectant mothers are at risk of developing labor and birth complications, including high blood pressure and preeclampsia. The baby is at risk for being overly large at birth (sometimes referred to as macrosomia), which can cause birth injuries, glucose intolerance and obesity in childhood. Babies born to mothers with diabetes, especially type 1 or type 2, are also at risk of being too small, often referred to as intrauterine growth restriction.
Dear Dr. Nicholson: I am finding it difficult to eat healthy foods during my pregnancy. With morning sickness and diabetes, I find I am eating erratically, sometimes a lot, other times not at all. I'd like to learn about proper eating, diet and nutrition during my pregnancy.
Dear Nicholson: I have diabetes and would like to have a baby. How should I prepare for a healthy pregnancy?
Preparing before you conceive is one of the best steps you can take to have a healthy baby and a healthier you. A woman with diabetes who is planning pregnancy should consult with her healthcare team before she becomes pregnancy. In the field of obstetrics, these visits are termed preconception visits. Preconception health18 refers to the health of the woman before she becomes pregnancy. Preconception visits provide an opportunity to make sure blood glucose levels are in optimal control, adjust medications, manage any associated medical problems, such as hypertension (i.e. high blood pressure), and to start folic acid supplementation which is recommended for all women considering pregnancy. It is recommended that women begin to take folic acid supplementation (400 mcg per day) at least one month before conception. Preconception visits also provide an opportunity for women and their clinicians to talk about how diabetes can affect the pregnancy and how pregnancy can affect their diabetes. Women with diabetes who are considering pregnant should take the following steps: