Diabetes in pregnancy: what every mother should know

During pregnancy, hormones from the placenta make the body less sensitive to insulin. In some women blood sugar rises above normal — this is gestational diabetes. Women who already had diabetes before pregnancy need extra care from the very start.

Every pregnant woman should have her blood sugar checked. Testing is usually done at the first visit and again between 24 and 28 weeks with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Women who are overweight, over 30, have a family history of diabetes or had a large baby before may be tested earlier.

High sugar can make the baby grow too large, raise the chance of a difficult delivery or caesarean, and cause low sugar in the newborn after birth. Good control lowers these risks a great deal.

Eat regular, smaller meals; choose brown rice or ruti in sensible portions, plenty of vegetables, lentils and protein; cut down on sweets, sugary drinks and white rice. A 20–30 minute walk after meals helps. Check your sugar as advised and bring the record to every visit. If diet is not enough, your doctor may start medicine or insulin — both are safe in pregnancy when prescribed.

Most women's sugar returns to normal after delivery, but the chance of diabetes later in life is higher, so check it again 6–12 weeks after the birth and then every year.