WHAT IS THE NORMAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL FOR PREGNANT WOMAN?

chiwendu ikewuibe
15 min readJun 1, 2021

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An image illustrating normal blood sugar level for pregnant woman

What exactly is blood sugar? Blood sugar refers to the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. It comes from the foods you eat, notably the fruits, vegetables, loaves of bread, and portions of pasta you ingest. You would have blood sugar even if you didn’t eat any of those items since certain cells in your body require sugar to survive. The sugar in your blood gives you the energy you need that your body requires to function Your body can generate energy in two ways. Energy can be obtained from either fat or sugar. When you burn fat for energy, the fat is broken down into molecules known as ketones. When you consume carbohydrate-based foods for energy, the carbohydrates are broken down into glucose. The basic energy for us is provided by glucose, the simplest sugar molecule is what gives our bodies their basic energy. The plant food you consume is broken down into glucose, which is then released into your bloodstream every time you eat. It travels to cells throughout the body and serves as an energy source for basic cellular functioning. The brain, kidneys, and red blood cells are especially reliant on glucose to provide energy. the cells require to survive and function properly Consider the “brain fog” you may experience if you go a long time without eating and feel the need to eat. While many cells in the body can obtain energy from fat through ketones, some cells in the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys require glucose to function. The brain requires approximately 30% of its energy from sugar’s requirements So, even if you don’t eat a lot of sugar, your body will keep your blood sugar levels above certain thresholds. TO SEE MORE

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A blood sugar level less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal. A reading of more than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) after two hours indicates diabetes. A reading between 140 and 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L) indicates prediabetes.30 Oct 2020

Includes Diseases: Diabetes mellitus type 1

Treatments: Exercise; Insulin (medication)

Blood Sugar Level Complications With Pregnancy

If the blood sugar levels are kept normal from prepregnancy through delivery, the chances of having a normal baby are the same for a diabetic woman as they are for a non-diabetic woman.

If the blood, sugar levels are not controlled during the first trimester of pregnancy (the first three months), there is a 14per cent chance of congenital malformations, fetal loss, or maternal complications. The goal is to maintain the blood, glucose levels in the range of 60–90GFDLl (3–5 mmol) fasting, and 70–120GFDLl (4–7 mmol) 2 hours after a meal. This is true for women with gestational diabetes (diabetes just during pregnancy) as well as for women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. If a woman has been on oral agents, she must be started on insulin during pregnancy because of the potential side effects of oral agents on the fetus. If a pregnant woman has more difficulty in controlling blood, glucose levels, insulin is given via an infusion pump or in four or more doses of short, acting insulin per day. DietA carefully controlled diet is important to your health and that of your developing baby. You will need a personalized diet plan, which you should evaluate and adjust during the months of your pregnancy. Snacks in addition to your three regular meals will help avoid extreme blood sugar levels and provide the developing baby with a constant supply of nutrients. Morning SicknessYour doctor may prescribe a drug to reduce nausea (morning sickness). Sometimes, simply eating a dry cracker will help, but crackers are a simple starch and thus, your insulin doses need adjustments to eat crackers. You may want to experiment with various foods. How Diabetes and Pregnancy May Affect BabyA common problem among the babies of pregnant diabetic women is a condition called “macrosomia,” which means “large body.” In other words, babies of diabetic women are apt to be considerably larger than others. This occurs because many of these babies receive too much sugar via the placenta. After all, their mothers have high blood sugar levels. The baby’s pancreas senses the high sugar levels and it produces more insulin in an attempt to use up all the extra sugar. That extra sugar is converted to fat, making a large baby. Complications During Travel Much preplanning must be done so that travel, whether for pleasure or business, is a safe and rewarding experience. If you are going over, seas, some names and numbers to know are as follows: Centers for Disease Control International Travelers Hotline: 1–800–311–3435, International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers: 1 (716) 7 54A883; Traveler Assistance International: 1–800–821–2828; Travelers Emergency Network: 1–800–275A836; and Travelex Insurance Services, Inc.: 1–800–228–9792 can give you the names of doctors in other countries who know about diabetes management. As noted earlier in the book, this company can also tell you what supplies are available in what countries and how to ask for assistance in other languages. If you will be crossing more than two time zones, many specialists advise you to change to multiple doses of short, acting insulin, which may be given just before meals (usually every 4 hours on an overseas flight). An insulin, infusion pump or baseline insulin (Ultralente Humalog insulin works very well for travel since it is given right with the meal and lasts about 4 hours) make it even easier to travel. You only need to take insulin in bolus or injection before a meal, whenever it occurs. It is usually recommended that you stay on multiple doses f4 to 48 hours after reaching your destination. The two cardinal rules for travel: Always keep your insulin with you (not in your suitcase)Article Search, and always keep some food in your possession SEE MORE

THE STUDIED OF GLUCOSE AND PLASMA INSULIN IN A PREGNANT WOMAN.

Glucose tolerance and plasma insulin levels were studied during the third trimester of pregnancy in 32 normal women. 35 patients with glycosuria and 25 “at-risk patients. Blood sugar levels were lower and plasma insulin levels were higher than in non-pregnant controls. No difference was found between the normal pregnant patients and either the glycosuric or the “at-risk” group. It is suggested that the criteria for normal glucose tolerance might be modified during pregnancy. PREGNANCY is known to have a diabetogenic effect in genetically predisposed individuals, some of whom first develop diabetic symptoms during pregnancy (Hagbard and Svanborg, 1960). In addition, the presence of latent or frank diabetes mellitus increases the risk of fetal loss (Gellis and Hsia, 1959; Malins, 1968). It would therefore be an advantage if there was a method of detecting those patients at greatest risk. Glycosuria is an unreliable guide to diabetes in pregnancy because of the lowered renal threshold. Glucose tolerance tests will detect patients with established chemical diabetes, but stillbirths and delivery of abnormally heavy infants may precede by many years any abnormality in this test (Allen, 1939; Gilbert and Dunlop, 1949). The introduction of a reliable immunoassay of insulin (Yalow and Berson, 1960) increased the scope of investigation of carbohydrate metabolism and may be expected to be of value in revealing early abnormalities. It has been shown (Spellacy and Goetz, 1963; Bleicher et al., 1964; Trayner et al., 1967) that plasma insulin levels are elevated during normal pregnancy, although less so than in those with latent diabetes. ____ * Now Senior Registrar, Dundee Royal Infirmary. The present study was undertaken to discover whether abnormalities could be detected either in patients with glycosuria of pregnancy or in those considered to be at risk. Patients with a family history of diabetes, a previous stillbirth, two consecutive abortions, or a previous baby of over ten pounds (4.5 kg.) birthweight, were included in the “at-risk” group.

Know the risks of blood sugar and Pregnancy!

A mother can get diabetes while she’s pregnant. The condition is known as gestational diabetes in which your blood sugar levels become high during pregnancy. During pregnancy, constant hormonal changes force the glucose build-up in the bloodstream.

Diabetes is one of the most life-threatening diseases around the world. It not only puts your blood sugar levels in constant danger but also opens the door to many other health complications. You can get diabetes at any point time in life, there’s no age restriction when it comes to it. But imagine being asked to deal with diabetes and pregnancy at the same time. Yes, a mother can get diabetes while she’s pregnant. The condition is known as gestational diabetes in which your blood sugar levels become high during pregnancy. Here the types are similar to that of normal diabetes, A1 and A2. While A1 gestational diabetes can be managed through diet and exercise, A2 gestational diabetes is much severe and might need insulin dosage. Gestational diabetes is known to last until the time of pregnancy but there’s also a risk that your newborn might get diabetes. Gestational diabetes symptoms are similar to signs and symptoms of diabetes, we’ve put together the most common ones below. SEE MORE

Frequent urination

Frequent thirst

Frequent hunger

Gestational diabetes causes

Insulin is a hormone that breaks down sugar into glucose and then transports them to the respective cells. Your pancreas is the one responsible to produce this insulin. During pregnancy, constant hormonal changes force the glucose build-up in the bloodstream. If this occurs in a normal case, the pancreas ensures an adequate amount of insulin is released to deal with the problem. But in pregnancy it fails to do so, resulting in gestational diabetes.

So how do you identify you might have gestational diabetes? We’ve put down a few tests that your doctor might suggest to determine gestational diabetes. Mostly, gestational diabetes is present in the latter weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor might suggest when to do a test/check-up depending on your symptoms, usually, it’s between weeks 24 and 28. A normal diabetes test is not recommended during pregnancy therefore, a glucose screening test is the most favourable option to determine gestational diabetes. During the test, you’re asked to have a sweet drink to raise your blood sugar levels. Then, a normal blood test is done after an hour or so to see how your body manages the excess sugar. If your sugar levels are higher than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), an oral glucose tolerance test is suggested. The tolerance test helps the doctors to check your blood sugar levels during meal intervals. If the results are the same as the earlier test, there’s a high chance you may have gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes management

If you suspect any diabetic symptoms during pregnancy, consult your doctor or gynaecologist as soon as possible to ensure you and the baby are healthy before and after the delivery. Keeping a track of symptoms is of utmost importance find Article, any slight changes should be reported immediately to the doctor. Your doctor might also suggest insulin dosage if the symptoms are much severe. Keep your blood sugar levels in check as any slight fluctuation might lead to other health complications for you and the child. The risk factors for gestational diabetes are as follows:

Blood sugar before a meal should be less than 95 mg/dL

Blood sugar an hour after a meal should be less than 140 mg/dL

Blood sugar two hours after a meal should be less than 120 mg/dL

Diabetes and pregnancy are very common but it’s best to consult a doctor to work out a plan as soon as possible for all the necessary guidance. TO SEE MORE

risks of blood sugar during pregnancy

It is very important to know that diabetes is a disease in which insulin is not produced by the body. Insulin is very important for converting carbohydrates into energy. The entry of glucose is preventing

It is very important to know that diabetes is a disease in which insulin is not produced by the body. Insulin is very important for converting carbohydrates into energy. The entry of glucose is prevented into the cells. The sugar levels rise to a great extent. Cells suffer from hunger.

There is a high risk of diabetes during pregnancy. The common risks of diabetes cause the following complications:

There is a lack of energy in the cells. This leads to increased appetite and severe fatigue

There is an elevation of blood sugar. This is a condition that results in the elimination of sugar through the kidneys. The body performs this by excreting abundant urine. Therefore, a person tends to feel very thirsty and loses weight very easily.

A lot of damage is caused to the heart, nerves, kidneys and eyes. This is usually manifested in the long run. This is very true especially if the disease is not being controlled properly.

For knowing about the risk of diabetes during pregnancy, reviewing the two types of diabetes is very important:

Pre gestational — This type of diabetes is one that is diagnosed before pregnancy. It is usually characterized by an increase in fetal malformations.

Gestational — this usually appears during pregnancy at a rate of 1 to 14 per cent. This may even persist in patients after birth. Usually, it is associated with many increased maternal disorders. These conditions include vaginal infections, high blood pressure, urinary tract infection and hypertension. Sometimes it also includes the caesarean and preterm section. Severe damage is caused to the baby. It can even lead to fetal death and overgrowth. A person becomes more exposed to glucose. This is because the pancreas is stimulated to secrete insulin. There is an abundant increase in development. Thus, damage can be generated while passing through the birth canal.

Pregnancy is usually metabolic stress which occurs in the mother’s body. The body is used by the baby for energy, oxygen, food and eliminating waste. Thus, during pregnancy free Reprint Articles, it is likely that a patient may suffer from the deficiency of insulin. The sugar is allowed to enter the cell. It causes the aggravation of diabetes.

The risk of diabetes during pregnancy mainly occurs if:

A woman is above 25 years

If she is obese and younger than 25 years

If she owns a family history of diabetes in her siblings and parents

If she belongs to an ethnic group that has a high prevalence of diabetes.

Diabetes: Breast-feeding May Help Babies and Women Against Diabetes

Babies and women may be protected against developing diabetes disease through breastfeeding, according to new research. This current study states that the longer women nursed, the lower their risks of developing diabetes.

Diabetes is a medical disorder characterized by varying or persistent elevated blood sugar levels, especially due to eating, is a serious disease which symptoms are very similar for all types of diabetes.

Breastfeeding is when a woman feeds a baby or a young child with milk produced from her breasts. The best thing for feeding a baby is breast milk, as experts say if the mother does not have transmissible infections.

Although study findings are not conclusive, researchers explain that breastfeeding may change the metabolism of mothers which may help keep blood sugar levels stable and make the body more sensitive to the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin.

This theory is based on some evidence that shows that in rats and humans that are breastfeeding, mothers have lower blood-sugar levels than those who did not breastfeed.

According to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who breastfed for at least one year were about 15 per cent less likely to develop diabetes type 2 than those who never breastfed. For each additional year of breastfeeding, there was an additional 15 per cent decreased risk.

A total of 157,000 nurses participated in the new study. They answered periodic health questionnaires and were followed for at least 12 years. During the study, 6,277 participants developed type 2 diabetes.

Some useful vitamins that lower blood sugar

Certain vitamins and minerals have been found beneficial in lowering blood sugar and thus useful in the treatment of diabetes.

Vitamin B complex — Vitamins of the B group are valuable in the treatment of low blood sugar. Despite an adequate intake of these vitamins, diabetics often have abnormally small amounts of vitamin B in their blood because of high urinary loss of exhibit symptoms of vitamin B deficiency. Marked clinical improvement has been reported in patients with diabetes with only 16000 units of daily supplements of the vitamin B complex. Because these vitamins help reduce blood fat and cholesterol, they should be generously supplied at all times.

Thiamine or Vitamin B1 — Of the various vitamins of the B group, thiamine or vitamin B1 and pyridoxine or vitamin B6 is of special value in diabetes. A diabetic diet inadequate in vitamin B1 often leads to the development of neuritis, which is relieved as soon as large amounts of this vitamin are given. Vitamin B1 is said to be particularly valuable in preventing damage to the brain during diabetic acidosis. The greater the insulin requirement, the higher is the requirement for vitamin B1, pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 and biotin or vitamin B8.

The primary natural vegetable sources of thiamine are wheat germ, brewers yeast, the outer layers of rice, wheat and other whole grain cereals, pulses, nuts, peas, lime, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, banana and apple. Those of pantothenic acid are wheat germ, whole grain bread, green vegetables and peanuts. Biotin is found in brewers yeast, rice bran, rice germ, rice polishing and peanut butter. SEE MORE HERE

Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6 — When diet is inadequate in vitamin B6 or pyridoxine, and essential amino acid tryptophan, is converted into a substance known as xanthurenic acid. It has been shown in laboratory experiments that xanthurenic acid tends to damage the pancreatic tissue.

Diabetics who have been given 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily have shown a rapid and marked decrease in urinary xanthurenic acid. In one case, the quantity dropped almost 97 per cent on the first day. A total absence of urinary xanthurenic acid amongst those who continued with a daily dosage of 10 to 20 mg of this vitamin indicated that none was

Steps To Tackle Blood sugar During Pregnancy

At the time of pregnancy, a woman experiences several changes in her body. One of the major changes is the fluctuation in blood glucose levels. But if you are already a diabetes patient then the magnitude of the precautionary measures increases.

As a woman, you have multiple responsibilities to take care of in your life. You have to play various roles. So it becomes very important for you to live a healthy life. You should be responsible for yourself. Only then you will be capable of taking responsibilities for others. And this responsibility increases manifolds when you are pregnant.

The first and the foremost important step is to go for regular medical check-ups. Keeping a tab of your blood sugar level is very crucial at the time of pregnancy. In pregnancy, there occurs an increase in the level of A1C in hemoglobin. An increase in the amount of A1C shows that there is poor control over the blood sugar levels in your body. High glucose means a high risk in pregnancy. This condition is fatal to both the fetus and the mother. Complications may be created at the time of delivery or the baby will be born with body defects.

There is only one solution to tackle the problem of diabetes during pregnancy. And that is care and precaution. A pregnant woman with diabetes is advised to take a good and regular diet, good fitness and exercising regime, coupled with an appropriate amount of rest. During pregnancy, it is also advised that a woman should give up smoking and drinking altogether. Apart from this intake of prenatal vitamins is also essential.

It becomes important for you to maintain your normal blood glucose level as much as you can in pregnancy. It is very important in the first trimester of the whole pregnancy period. If not taken care of properly, there are chances of miscarriages.

Avoid taking pills for maintaining normal blood sugar levels. Ask any medical professional and he will advise you to switch over to insulin injections instead. Apart from this, you need constant monitoring of the sugar levels. It is recommended that you get your blood sugar checked about eight times a day. Check, if you are suffering from hypoglycemia. If you areFree Reprint Articles, then get yourself treated.

Taking all these simple and easy steps at the time of your pregnancy will help you deliver a healthy baby.

Target blood sugar ranges for non-pregnant people with diabetes

ADA AACE

Before Meals 70–130mg/Dl Less than 110 mg/dL

2 Hours After a Meal Less than 180 mg

A1C (HbA1c) Less than 7.0% Less than 6.5%

Target blood sugar ranges for pregnant people with diabetes

Blood sugar targets during pregnancy are lower due to hormonal influences. The ADA, AACE, and Joslin Diabetes Center have slightly different guidelines for target blood sugar levels during pregnancy. In general, pregnant women with diabetes will want to follow individual guidelines provided by their endocrinologist.

The ADA recommends maintaining blood sugar levels of 95–140 mg/dL for pregnant women. However, some providers recommend an even tighter goal of blood glucose levels below 89 mg/dL before a meal and below 120 mg/dL after a meal.

To keep close tabs on levels, most diabetes specialists recommend that women with diabetes during pregnancy check their blood sugar:

First thing in the morning (fasting) Before all meals

1 hour after all meals At bedtime

Occasionally at 3 a.m.

Track your ranges with our free weekly and monthly blood sugar charts >

being formed in the body. Diabetics are thus greatly helped by a liberal intake of vitamin B6. The main natural sources of pyridoxine are milk, brewers yeast, cereals, legumes, green leafy vegetables and carrot.

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