Diabetes and pregnancy

Being pregnant should be a happy and exciting time however for many with diabetes it can be stressful and overwhelming.

We have a dedicated team to support all achieve a stress-free pregnancy. Whether it is with either pre-existing diabetes or those who develop gestational diabetes.

Please contact us if you have diabetes and are considering having a baby.

I am thinking of having a baby

We are excited that you are considering having a baby and we look forward to supporting you during this exciting, but what can also be a scary time too.

If you can get good diabetes control both before and during your pregnancy it is known to reduce the risks of pregnancy complications.

The target HbA1c prior to conception is 48mmol/mol. You may be thinking, there is no way I can achieve that.

If you have Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) you are now entitled to have hybrid closed loop technology prior to conception. This revolutionary technology is life changing and allows people to achieve good diabetes control without having lots of hypos.

Planning for pregnancy video from The Association of Diabetologists

If you have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), there are lots of new medications that support you to get good diabetes control, however, many of these are not licensed in pregnancy and so may cause harm to your baby.

You will also be able to have access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). This will automatically alert you if your glucose levels are going too low or too high.

We would love to hear from you if you are thinking of having a baby within the next 12 months.

Carbohydrate free snacks

Food and drinks which do not contain carbohydrate, do not require insulin. Therefore the following foods and drinks can be eaten in moderation between meals without insulin because they contain no or minimal amounts of carbohydrate:

• Vegetables
• Hard cheese chunks, slices, strings
• Small amount soft cheese, spread or dip
• Pickles and pickled vegetables
• Sugar free jelly
• Meat from the bone – check the label on processed meats such as sausages or ham as these foods usually contain some carbohydrate and will need to be eaten in moderation
• Fish
• Eggs
• Water, sugar free drinks and ice pops

Useful resources and links

Top tips for optimising glucose levels during pregnancy – The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists

Type 1 or 2 diabetes in pregnancy – Tommy’s

Pregnancy and diet – BDA The Association of UK Dietitians

Gestational diabetes book – Carbs & Cals

Gestational diabetes – NHS