Table of contents:
- Recognizing diabetes in pregnant women
- Are injections of insulin during pregnancy safe for babies?
- What form of insulin is recommended for pregnant women?
When pregnant women have diabetes, doctors usually recommend controlling blood sugar levels through insulin injections. However, you may be wondering about the effects of insulin during pregnancy on the unborn baby. Can the use of insulin during pregnancy have certain effects on pregnant women and their babies? Check out the answer below.
Recognizing diabetes in pregnant women
Before studying the effects of insulin on pregnant women, you must first understand what diabetes is in pregnant women. Diabetes in pregnant women is divided into two, namely pregestational diabetes and gestational diabetes.
Pregestational diabetes occurs when a woman is detected to have diabetes before becoming pregnant. Meanwhile, gestational diabetes, which is more common, occurs when a woman who is pregnant increases her blood sugar level to become diabetic (even though she had no history of diabetes before pregnancy).
If the blood sugar levels of pregnant women are not controlled, the development of the fetus in the womb will be disrupted. Pregnant women whose diabetes is uncontrolled will also be more prone to experiencing various dangerous pregnancy complications.
Are injections of insulin during pregnancy safe for babies?
Insulin is a hormone that functions to deliver sugar into cells for later use as a source of energy for the body. Lack or absence of the hormone insulin in the body will make sugar build up in the blood until the level is too high. This is what is called diabetes.
Therefore, people who have diabetes usually get insulin from doctors, including pregnant women. Then is insulin dangerous for babies?
In commemoration of World Diabetes Day 2017, dr. Roy Panusunan Sibarani, SpPD-KEMD, an endocrine specialist and member of PERSADIA (Indonesian Diabetes Association), spoke about insulin and its effects on pregnant women and the fetus.
When met in educational activities with the theme "Women and Diabetes - our right to a healthy future " initiated by Novo Nordisk Indonesia in South Jakarta, dr. Roy Sibarani stated that the use of insulin has been proven to be very safe and recommended for pregnant women with diabetes and their unborn babies.
"Giving insulin in gestational diabetes is adjusted again with the doctor's consideration and the condition of the pregnant woman. The dose depends on the need, whether there is a lot of insulin deficiency or not, "said dr. Roy Sibarani.
Furthermore, dr. Roy Sibarani also explained that if the insulin deficiency was not that severe, giving insulin with a light dose would be sufficient. However, it must be accompanied by regular exercise and a healthy diet during pregnancy.
In essence, you don't have to worry about having to inject insulin while pregnant. The reason is, not getting insulin treatment during pregnancy with diabetes is actually much more risky for the mother and the baby.
What form of insulin is recommended for pregnant women?
Currently, insulin treatment for gestational diabetes is available in the form of pills and injections, for example, pen injections that are easy to use by ordinary people. All types of preparations are declared safe for pregnant women. However, the American Diabetic Association notes a number of studies suggesting the possibility of insulin from the pill to enter the placenta so that it can be absorbed by the baby's body. However, the exact effect on infants is not known.
Therefore, discuss all possibilities with the doctor who treats you. If you have certain concerns or feel more safe with insulin in certain preparations, tell your obstetrician and internal medicine doctor.
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