Diabetes was once a very serious medical problem during pregnancy. It continues to be an important complication of pregnancy, but today most women can have a safe pregnancy with proper medical care, a good diet and by following their doctor's instructions. Using a glucometer to measure blood sugar is essential for diabetes control during pregnancy.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
 | an increase in urination |
| blurred vision |
| weight loss or weight gain |
| dizziness |
| increased hunger |
Diabetes can cause medical problems that could be serious to you and your baby. If diabetes is not treated, you will expose your baby to a high concentration of sugar called hyperglycemia, which is not healthy for the baby.
If you have uncontrolled diabetes, you also face a significantly higher risk of miscarriage and problems at the time of birth. The most common fetal problems are heart problems, genitourinary problems and gastrointestinal problems. Diabetes can also cause large babies.
Diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests, called a glucose-tolerance test or a fasting blood sugar. Some patients ask me if sugar in the urine is a sign of diabetes. The answer is,"Not necessarily." It is common for normal, pregnant, nondiabetic women to have a small amount of sugar in their urine, a condition called glucosuria. This occurs because of changes in your sugar levels and changes in the way the kidneys process sugar during pregnancy.
