- 24 Mar, 2016
Infertility, Pregnancy and Diabetes
Lack of sleep, a healthy diet and exercise, long hours of work are triggers that have changed a woman’s hormonal constitution. Other issues include endometriosis, tubal infections, pelvic tuberculosis, age, uterine fibroids and hypothyroid.
By itself, diabetes does not keep a woman from getting pregnant, but it can keepher from staying pregnant as the disease often prevents an embryo from implanting in the uterus. Glucose (blood sugar) levels that are too high, can affect hormone levels throughout the body that are needed for a pregnancy to occur. That is why glucose control is so important to your fertility.
Statistics from The American Diabetes Association say high glucose levels increase a woman’s chances of miscarriage by 30-60%.
Diabetes complications in women include the frequently reported gestational diabetes and macrosomia – or a big baby. Sometimes these babies are not able to pass through the birth canal, so there are higher incidences of Caesarean sections, and sometimes it becomes necessary to induce labour early.
Distress of the foetus and an increased risk of birth defects can also be directly related to diabetes problems that the mother has.
Women with diabetes should plan ahead and get their insulin levels well under control before attempting to conceive. Please remember that more than 60% of all infertility cases are treatable – and almost 1/3 of them only require treatments that you can do for yourself; like consuming a healthy, nutritious diet and exercising regularly.
Make an appointment with the specialists at the S10 Health SafeCare Network to get your diabetes checked and controlled.
MBBS, DGO, DNB (OG), Dip. ALS (Germany), AMRCOG (UK),
Medical Director - GBR Clinic – Fertility Centre
