Diabetes and Prenatal Care

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The blood glucose checks you do at home are a key part of taking good care of yourself and your baby before, during and after pregnancy. Blood glucose targets are designed to help you minimize the risk of birth defects and miscarriage and they can help prevent your baby from getting too large. If you have trouble staying in your target range or have frequent low blood glucose levels, talk to your healthcare team about revising your treatment plan.


The American Diabetes Association suggests the following targets for women with pre-existing diabetes who become pregnant. More or less stringent glycemic goals may be appropriate for each individual.

• Before a meal (preprandial) and bedtime/overnight: 60-99 mg/dl

• After a meal (*postprandial): 100-129 mg/dl

• A1C: less than 6%


*Postprandial glucose measurements should be made 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of the meal, which is generally when levels peak in people with diabetes.

 

 

 

—Source: American Diabetes Association

Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, May 2015