Diabetic Management

Having diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk of health complications for you and your baby. This includes whether you had diabetes beforehand or it developed during the pregnancy. But with the right prenatal care, you and your baby can have a healthy pregnancy. Pushpinder Dhillon, MD, MS, FACOG, Debra Adams, NP, and the team at Maternal Fetal Specialists in Fredericksburg, Reston and Springfield, Virginia, specialize in high-risk pregnancy for women with diabetes. For comprehensive diabetic management during pregnancy, call the office nearest you to book an appointment today.

What is diabetic counseling?

Diabetes is a health condition that causes blood sugar levels to be higher than normal.

The sugar in your blood, called glucose, serves as the primary source of energy for all the cells in your body. Insulin, a hormone made by your pancreas, helps usher the sugar from your blood into the cells to provide the needed energy.

If you have diabetes, the sugar is unable to get into the cell because your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin (or any insulin) or the insulin you do have isn’t functioning like it should.

Diabetes is a serious medical condition, especially during pregnancy. Pregnancy places extra stress on your body, which may inadvertently make it harder to control your blood sugar level. Elevated blood sugar during pregnancy increases the risk of complications, such as large baby, preterm labor, or delivery complications.

At Maternal Fetal Specialists, the experienced team offers full diabetes management, which includes nutritional consults and insulin therapy if indicated. During the third trimester, Maternal Fetal Specialists offers full fetal testing including biophysical profiles and non stress tests in both of the offices.

Maternal Fetal Specialists is the only practice in the area that manages diabetes for maternity patients, so there’s no need for pregnant women with diabetes to see an endocrinologist. They are also the only maternal fetal medicine practice that has a full-time nurse practitioner dedicated to diabetes management that assists and cares for patients and works closely with the physicians.

Who needs diabetic counseling?

Any pregnant woman with diabetes can benefit from diabetic counseling at Maternal Fetal Specialists. 

There are three types of diabetes that affect women, including:

Type 1 diabetes

People with Type 1 diabetes don’t make insulin, so they must take insulin injections to live. 

When a woman with Type 1 diabetes is expecting, it’s considered a high-risk pregnancy, and she requires specialized prenatal care, including diabetic counseling. 

Type 2 diabetes

With Type 2 diabetes, your body makes some insulin, but is still unable to get enough of the sugar into the cell, resulting in higher-than-normal blood sugar. 

You don’t necessarily need to take insulin with Type 2 diabetes. However, pregnancy may affect your blood sugar control, and you may benefit from insulin injections to prevent complications. 

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. In most cases, gestational diabetes resolves after you give birth, but having it increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

What can I expect during diabetic counseling?

When you visit Maternal Fetal Specialists for diabetic counseling, you can expect comprehensive and compassionate care. Your maternal fetal specialist reviews your blood sugar readings and asks about your medications, typical diet, daily stresses, and exercise. 

After your exam, the team develops your diabetic treatment plan, which may include:

• A personalized nutritional care plan
• An insulin regimen
• Blood glucose monitoring

Your diabetic counseling includes routine follow-up appointments to monitor your blood sugar levels and update your diet and insulin dosage to make sure you’re maintaining good blood sugar control.

For expert diabetic counseling during your pregnancy, call Maternal Fetal Specialists today.