Medicines to treat diabetes during pregnancy: Protect the health of pregnant mothers

If you are worried that the use of antidiabetic drugs during pregnancy will adversely affect the baby in the abdomen, you can temporarily put this fear off and let aFamilyToday Health find out the problem!

Using antidiabetic drugs during pregnancy according to doctor's guidance is essential to ensure the health of pregnant women as well as to support the best development of the baby until birth.

Safe pregnancy diabetes medicines

You may not need to take antidiabetic drugs in  pregnancy, but just manage your blood sugar disorder by following a special diet and exercise plan. In addition, your doctor will prescribe oral medications or insulin to help lower blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas normally secretes. The type of insulin people use to treat diabetes is called synthetic insulin. Insulin treatment aims to lower the blood sugar level of a person with gestational diabetes equal to the glucose level of a normal woman.

Your doctor will tell you how to give insulin injections (proven to be safe for the fetus) and you will need to give it several times a day. In addition, you also need to have  a  healthy diet . To do this, pay attention to the amount of carbohydrates (such as sugars and powders) and use foods with little to change blood sugar levels, such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes.

How do I know if I am taking the right medicine?

Insulin is an effective treatment but requires careful monitoring. Pregnant mothers need to have blood sugar tests at least 4 times a day (using home blood glucose measuring kits ) and note the results.

You also need to keep a record of how much insulin you take. In general, your insulin requirements will increase as the pregnancy continues. If treatment is effective, then blood sugar levels will be within normal limits. Even so, blood sugar levels can change rapidly during pregnancy. So if you are having any good results, continue to check your sugar levels as advised by your doctor.

If you feel fine and the doctor is satisfied with the results of your blood glucose test, you can rest assured that treatment is going so well.

Gestational diabetes can cause the fetus to grow more than normal, so your doctor will likely have to check the fetal growth rate. You may need to do an extra ultrasound during your 3rd trimester to determine what your baby's size is.

If medication is needed to control blood sugar, you will need to have a non-stress test on the fetus around 32 weeks of pregnancy . This is a safe test that helps the doctor check for signs to know if the fetus is getting enough blood fed through the placenta.

Alternative treatments for insulin injections

In addition to insulin injections, your doctor will prescribe medications to treat other diabetes , such as glyburide and metformin, to lower blood sugar levels. Both of these drugs are taken by mouth so you will not need an injection. However, you also need to eat carefully and monitor your blood sugar levels even with these drugs.

In addition, the above drugs can cross the placental barrier even in small amounts. Also, sometimes taking such medication is not enough to control your blood sugar, so you may still need to take insulin.

If you are concerned about your pregnancy diabetes medication, talk directly to your doctor and keep in mind that untreated gestational diabetes can be harmful for you. and child.