In light of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the Connecticut Pregnancy Exposure Information Service (CPEIS), a non-profit based at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington that aims to educate women about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, urges women to learn more about diabetes’ potentially devastating impact on pregnancy.
The Connecticut Pregnancy Exposure Information Service (CPEIS) in collaboration with the Organization Information Specialists (OTIS) researchers have compiled fact sheets on diabetes and its possible implications during pregnancy on www.OTISPregnancy.org . Fact sheets on some medications to treat diabetes during pregnancy, such as metformin, can also be found on the website.
“Women who are pregnant or considering a pregnancy need to focus on maintaining good control of their blood glucose levels,” said Sharon Voyer Lavigne, MS, a genetic counselor and coordinator for CPEIS. “Being in good control prior to becoming pregnant and throughout a pregnancy is the best way to reduce any potential risks to the baby,” added Voyer Lavigne.
Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). The growing number of those affected by the disease has reached such epidemic proportions, for the month of November, President Barack Obama encouraged “all Americans, school systems, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers, and research institutions to join in activities that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage the disease.”
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly.
“With the rise in type 2 diabetes , it is important that we make people aware that diabetes in any form can have an impact on all of us, including the unborn child of a woman with the disease,” explained Voyer Lavigne. She stresses the importance for women to know whether or not they are diabetic by having regular health checkups. “Knowing early on that a woman is diabetic, allows her to get into good glucose control habits which will keep her healthy and minimize any adverse effects on a pregnancy,” she added.
There may be up to a 20% risk for birth defects for those women with extremely poor control of their glucose levels in the first trimester of pregnancy. Some of the associated birth defects include spinal cord (spina bifida), heart, skeletal, urinary, reproductive, and digestive system defects.
“Just as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are important to monitor closely during pregnancy, women also need to know about their risk for gestational diabetes, “said Voyer Lavigne. Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is diagnosed during pregnancy. For most women, blood glucose levels return to normal after pregnancy. “As with other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes needs to be well controlled so that the pregnancy is at lower risk for complications in the newborn period like, hypoglycemia or breathing problems,” she explained.
If a woman is planning on becoming pregnant or is currently pregnant, she is encouraged to talk to her doctor about her or her family’s history of diabetes. Questions or concerns from women in Connecticut can also be directed to the CT Pregnancy Riskline at (800) 325‑5391 or 860 – 523-6419. Outside of Connecticut, please call the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists at (866) 626-OTIS (6847).
Connecticut Pregnancy Exposure Information Service, affiliate of OTIS, a North American non-profit dedicated to providing accurate evidence-based, clinical information to patients and health care professionals about exposures during pregnancy and lactation through its toll-free hotline and website, www.OTISPregnancy.org. Nearly 100,000 women seek information about birth defect prevention from OTIS and its affiliates every year.
