Blood Sugar Levels for Pregnant Women with Diabetes

Whether you had diabetes before you got pregnant or you developed diabetes during your pregnancy, you'll need to keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels. Tight control will help you avoid complications and long-term health problems for both you and your baby.

You're eating differently because your body needs more energy to help your baby grow and be healthy. And your changing hormones affect how your body makes and uses insulin. In the later parts of your pregnancy, you may become more insulin resistant, so blood sugar builds up to higher levels.

How often should you check your blood sugar?

• Pre-existing diabetes: Before and after meals and before bedtime
• Gestational diabetes: Before breakfast and after every meal; your doctor can tell you how long after eating you should check.

If you are pregnant and have type 1 diabetes, your doctor might sometimes ask you to check your blood sugar in the middle of the night, around 3 a.m. Your doctor may recommend that you check your fasting urine ketones on a regular basis, as well.

For every type of diabetes, if you're pregnant you need to see your doctor at least once a month, perhaps as often as once a week.

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