Diabetes and pregnancy

There are different types of diabetes you can have during pregnancy:

• pre-existing known as type 1 or 2 diabetes
• gestational diabetes.

If you have any type of diabetes during pregnancy, you can have a healthy baby but there are some extra risks.

To reduce the chance of any complications, regular checks during pregnancy are needed to ensure the best health for you and your baby.

These complications can include:

• having a baby that is too big or too small
• high blood pressure that can harm both mother and baby (pre-eclampsia)
• having the baby earlier than expected
• problems with the baby's development
• difficulties for the mother and increased chance of needing a C-section.

You can have diabetes in pregnancy and not have any symptoms.

The symptoms that you may have, particularly if you have pre-existing diabetes are:

• being very thirsty
• needing to go to the toilet more often to urinate.

What is gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.

Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from your blood to your muscles and cells.

When you're pregnant, the placenta makes different hormones to help your baby grow.

These hormones can stop insulin from working well, which means you need to make more insulin.

When your blood glucose levels rise above normal due to these hormones, it's called gestational diabetes.

This usually goes away after your baby is born.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes

You might have a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes if you:

• had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
• have a family history of any type of diabetes, especially a close relative
• have previously had higher blood glucose levels
• are over 35 years old
• are above a healthy weight range
• are of Aboriginal descent
• are from certain ethnic backgrounds like Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, African, Melanesian, Polynesian, South American, or Middle Eastern
• have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• had a previous baby that weighed 4.5 kg or more at birth.

Not everyone with these risk factors will develop gestational diabetes.

Even if you don't have any of the risk factors, you can still get gestational diabetes, which is why it's important to be tested during pregnancy.

Testing for gestational diabetes

You will be offered testing for gestational diabetes at around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy.

You will not have to do the test if you already have diabetes.

Testing for gestational diabetes includes drinking a glucose drink and blood test.

Gestational diabetes after pregnancy

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born.

If you had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy, you have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

You should be tested again 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, and then every 2 to 3 years if you feel unwell or if you plan to have another baby.

Having gestational diabetes does not mean your baby will be born with diabetes, but it can increase the risk of the baby developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Staying healthy during a pregnancy with diabetes

If you have diabetes, gestational or pre-existing type 1 or 2, you can help manage it by:

• eating healthy foods
• being active
• checking your blood glucose level
• taking medication if your doctor prescribes it
• talking to your doctor and healthcare team for support.

If you had diabetes before getting pregnant, you should continue taking care of it with the help of your doctors and specialists, both before and after giving birth.

Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinical Register

The Northern Territory (NT) Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinical Register collects information about you if:

• you're over 16 years old
• plan to or give birth in the NT
• have any type of diabetes during pregnancy.

The register gets information from electronic medical records and birth outcome data.

Health professionals use this information to help make decisions about your treatment during your pregnancy, and any future pregnancies.

The information is also used to improve the services for others who may have diabetes during their pregnancy.

Your name and contact details are not used in any reports.

Only the people who are providing you with health care have access to your health information.

At any time you can ask to have your information taken off the register by contacting  the register or asking your health care team.

For more information, or to request to be removed from the register, go to diabetes in pregnancy partnership website.

Diabetes support

It is important to talk to your health care team to find the right support if you have any type of diabetes, especially if you are planning to be or are pregnant.

Healthy Living NT

Healthy Living NT provides services for all types of diabetes in:

• Darwin
• Palmerston
• Alice Springs.

Phone appointments are available if you live outside of these regions.

For more information and to contact an office in your region, go to the Healthy Living NT website.

National Diabetes Services Scheme

The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is a Commonwealth Government program and register for all people with diabetes.

The NDSS offers:

• support services for practical help and guidance
• diabetes health information and resources
• subsidised diabetes products

You can be signed up to the NDSS by your doctor, credentialed diabetes educator or nurse practitioner.

For more information about the NDSS, go to the National Diabetes Services Scheme website.