Obese women with type 2 diabetes may practice diligent diabetes management to avoid pregnancy complications
Obesity and type 2 diabetes often go hand in hand, which is why many physicians recommend that their diabetic patients lose weight in order to improve their condition.
Taking measures to shed pounds and control blood sugar levels may be especially important for pregnant women who are obese and have type 2 diabetes since this combination may lead to health problems for them and their babies.
A recent study published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine indicated that while obesity has been known to increase the risk of delivery complications, type 2 diabetes may worsen these odds.
"We’ve never seen the degree of obesity and type 2 diabetes in women that we are seeing right now, because for a very long time diabetes was a disease of an older population, so we rarely dealt with it in prenatal care. We hope this new knowledge will help physicians better understand and care for this rapidly expanding group of high-risk women," said senior study author Loralei Thornburg.
The American Diabetes Association reports that more than 25 million Americans have diabetes, and only 5 percent of these individuals are type 1 diabetics.
The researchers compared 213 pairs of women who had very similar body weights in order to determine whether those who were obese and had diabetes had even higher risks of complications than those who were significantly overweight but did not have type 2 diabetes.
The study's results showed that type 2 diabetes was associated with higher odds of preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, shoulder dystocia, preterm delivery, high birth weight, fetal anomaly and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
In light of these findings, the investigators suggested that women who have type 2 diabetes should make lifestyle changes that will help them control their blood sugar levels before they conceive and that they continue this type of strict diabetes management throughout pregnancy in order to minimize the negative effects that the condition can have on their babies.
Following a diabetic diet and exercise regimen may help women with type 2 diabetes reduce their blood sugar levels. Additionally, physicians may prescribe diabetes medications to assist in blood glucose control if a pregnant women struggles to maintain healthy HbA1c test scores.
Taking measures to shed pounds and control blood sugar levels may be especially important for pregnant women who are obese and have type 2 diabetes since this combination may lead to health problems for them and their babies.
A recent study published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine indicated that while obesity has been known to increase the risk of delivery complications, type 2 diabetes may worsen these odds.
"We’ve never seen the degree of obesity and type 2 diabetes in women that we are seeing right now, because for a very long time diabetes was a disease of an older population, so we rarely dealt with it in prenatal care. We hope this new knowledge will help physicians better understand and care for this rapidly expanding group of high-risk women," said senior study author Loralei Thornburg.
The American Diabetes Association reports that more than 25 million Americans have diabetes, and only 5 percent of these individuals are type 1 diabetics.
The researchers compared 213 pairs of women who had very similar body weights in order to determine whether those who were obese and had diabetes had even higher risks of complications than those who were significantly overweight but did not have type 2 diabetes.
The study's results showed that type 2 diabetes was associated with higher odds of preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, shoulder dystocia, preterm delivery, high birth weight, fetal anomaly and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
In light of these findings, the investigators suggested that women who have type 2 diabetes should make lifestyle changes that will help them control their blood sugar levels before they conceive and that they continue this type of strict diabetes management throughout pregnancy in order to minimize the negative effects that the condition can have on their babies.
Following a diabetic diet and exercise regimen may help women with type 2 diabetes reduce their blood sugar levels. Additionally, physicians may prescribe diabetes medications to assist in blood glucose control if a pregnant women struggles to maintain healthy HbA1c test scores.
First published on: July 25, 2011
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