smiling woman carrying her baby

Diabetes is affecting more moms every year.

The CDC’s National Diabetes Statistics Report revealed that 10.2% of women in the 18-44 age group had been diagnosed with diabetes, with a further 3.9% of the demographic thought to have it. Those numbers don’t include pre-diabetes or gestational diabetes, either.

Monitoring health is important for everyone, but particularly for moms. You have the most important job in the world! So, let’s take a look at why it’s vital to focus on your health when diabetes becomes part of the picture.

Start early

If you’re diabetic and intend to start trying for a family, do speak to your physician beforehand. It’s best if your blood sugar level is 6.5% or as close to it as possible. If your sugars are above 10%, you may be advised to wait before getting pregnant. For those who are not diabetic before pregnancy, screening for gestational diabetes can occur in the second trimester; during the 24-28 week period. The exact cause of gestational diabetes isn’t known, and it affects up to 10% of pregnant women in the US. Poorly managed diabetes of whichever type can increase the risks to both mom and baby and should be taken seriously.

During pregnancy

Managing diabetes while pregnant centers on keeping blood glucose within normal levels. This will involve increased monitoring, a diet low in sugar, exercise, and perhaps insulin injections. The need for insulin generally increases in the third trimester as the body becomes more insulin-resistant as the pregnancy progresses. While gestational diabetes usually goes away shortly after birth, new moms who’ve had it should be tested between 4 and 12 weeks after delivery for type 2 and prediabetes. 

Breastfeeding

The good news is breastfeeding is entirely safe for diabetic moms whether type 1 or type 2; it just involves having a few more things to hand. Medications used to treat diabetes such as insulin and metformin are safe to use while feeding. Feeding may increase insulin sensitivity, and will certainly burn a lot of calories, lowering blood sugars. For that reason, it’s essential to check your sugar levels before and after feeding and keep something that can quickly raise levels, like juice or gummies nearby. If your medical facility doesn’t have a lactation consultant, La Leche League has good online resources for breastfeeding, alongside many local chapters with meetup groups.

Lifestyle adjustments

Being a mom is hard. Being a diabetic mom can be harder. While you should certainly get plenty of exercise chasing a toddler around, motherhood means you might not always get set bedtimes or mealtimes. It is definitely worth exploring a diabetes weight management program. These can help with working out a food schedule and taking the guesswork out of maintaining a healthy diet while your time is at a premium. The best of them will offer coaching, and support, and can customize a nutrition plan compatible with your new lifestyle. Think of it as having one less thing to think about.

Talk to the kids

Diabetes isn’t a hidden condition. Between testing strips and injections or insulin pumps, your child will be curious as to what Mom is doing. They’ll wonder why you can’t eat some of the things that they see other people eating. Keep it simple and age-appropriate. It’s important to let them know that your supplies – medications, and monitors are Mom’s things and they shouldn’t touch them (unless you ask them to go get them specifically). The last thing you need is for it to be a cause of fear or anxiety for them. An appropriately-informed kid is a confident kid, and one who can help in times of trouble, should they be needed.

Mental health

Diabetic burnout is unfortunately all too common. Why do I have this condition? Why do I need to constantly monitor? It’s easy to feel the unfairness viscerally and shut down. Kids can often be the source of stress, but they can also be great partners in relieving it. Going to the park on a nice day can make for an hour of fun, and the Vitamin D from the sunlight will improve mood. Signing up for a playgroup can broaden your social circle. New mom groups are often hosted by hospitals, and neighborhood mom groups abound on social media.

30% of American women will be diagnosed with diabetes at some point in their lives. That normally skews toward seniors, but in recent years the trends are getting younger. Managing diabetes while being a Mom can seem like a challenge. But you’ve got the best reason in the world to make sure you’re staying as healthy as possible. You got this.

 

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