Blood glucose goals are tighter for pregnant women with gestational diabetes than for most people with type 2 diabetes. This is because of the harmful effects that too much glucose in the mother’s blood can have on the growing baby, as well as on the mother. The last half of the pregnancy is when the baby grows larger. Too much glucose in the mother’s blood during the last half of pregnancy can lead to a baby that is too large to be delivered safely. This condition is called macrosomia. Because of macrosomia, women with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of delivery by cesarean section. Also, the baby may need to be delivered early if he or she grows too large too fast. An early delivery puts the baby at a higher risk for respiratory distress because the lungs are about the last organ to mature.
Blood glucose goals are tighter for pregnant women with gestational
diabetes than for most people with type 2 diabetes. This is because
of the harmful effects that too much glucose in the mother’s blood
can have on the growing baby, as well as...
More
American Diabetes Association answered:Blood glucose goals are tighter for pregnant women with gestational diabetes than for most people with type 2 diabetes. This is because of the harmful effects that too much glucose in the mother’s blood can have on the growing baby, as well as on the mother. The last half of the pregnancy is when the baby grows larger. Too much glucose in the mother’s blood during the last half of pregnancy can lead to a baby that is too large to be delivered safely. This condition is called macrosomia. Because of macrosomia, women with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of delivery by cesarean section. Also, the baby may need to be delivered early if he or she grows too large too fast. An early delivery puts the baby at a higher risk for respiratory distress because the lungs are about the last organ to mature.Blood glucose goals are tighter for pregnant women with gestational diabetes than for most people with type 2 diabetes. This is because of the harmful effects that too much glucose in the mother’s blood can have on the growing baby, as well as... More
