Consult with the maternal-fetal medicine team.
If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes before becoming pregnant (pregestational diabetes), your pregnancy may require additional monitoring and specialized care.
Diabetes mellitus, which includes Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, can increase the risk of certain complications, but having diabetes does not mean you cannot have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Careful blood sugar management, planning before pregnancy and appropriate prenatal care can help reduce risks.
The Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute Perinatal Program, in collaboration with Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine, provides specialized care for people with diabetes before, during and after pregnancy. Your care team can work with your regular OB/GYN and diabetes care providers to develop a plan for managing your health and monitoring your baby throughout pregnancy.
Pregestational diabetes was present before pregnancy or was diagnosed before you became pregnant.
It includes:
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy in someone who did not have diabetes before conceiving.
If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and are considering pregnancy, planning your care before conception is an important part of reducing pregnancy risks.
Diabetes can make a pregnancy more complex because changes in blood glucose can affect both your health and your baby’s development.
Factors that include how well your glucose levels are controlled, how long you have had diabetes and whether you have other health conditions or diabetes-related complications determine your individual risk.
Having diabetes does not mean that pregnancy complications are inevitable.
Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists have experience, expertise and training to care for pregnancies affected by Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Good blood glucose management and regular prenatal care can help reduce risks.
Pregestational diabetes can increase the risk of:
Your healthcare team will monitor your blood pressure, blood glucose and overall health throughout pregnancy.
Pregestational diabetes also can increase the risk of complications affecting your baby, including:
The level of risk varies from person to person. Blood glucose control before and during pregnancy is an important part of reducing the risk of complications.
Yes. People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes routinely have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
Planning ahead gives you and your care team an opportunity to address factors that can affect pregnancy before conception. This may include reviewing your blood glucose control, medications, nutrition and any diabetes-related health conditions.
Once you are pregnant, your care team can monitor your health and your baby’s growth and development closely.
A Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist can work alongside your regular OB/GYN rather than replacing your existing pregnancy care.
If you have diabetes and are considering pregnancy, make an appointment with your healthcare provider before trying to conceive.
Your preconception visit may include:
Managing diabetes during pregnancy is a team effort. Your care plan may include:
Blood glucose goals during pregnancy can differ from the goals you had before pregnancy. Your healthcare team will establish individualized targets and explain how often to check your blood glucose.
Do not change or stop diabetes medications without talking with your healthcare team.
Pregnancy can change your insulin needs throughout the first, second and third trimesters. Your treatment plan may need to be adjusted.
Your pregnancy care team may recommend additional monitoring based on your type of diabetes, blood glucose control, overall health and other risk factors.
Monitoring may include:
A fetal echocardiogram is a detailed ultrasound examination of the baby’s heart. Your provider will determine whether you need one based on your individual risk factors.
Your diabetes care does not stop when labor begins.
Your healthcare team may monitor your blood glucose during labor and delivery and adjust medication as needed. Your individual plan will depend on your type of diabetes, treatment and pregnancy.
After delivery, insulin and other medication needs can change quickly. Your diabetes care team will tell you how to adjust your treatment and continue monitoring your blood glucose.
Your newborn may need additional monitoring of blood glucose after birth, particularly if you had diabetes during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding is encouraged for many people with diabetes and can offer health benefits for both parent and baby. Talk with your care team about breastfeeding, nutrition and any medication considerations.
The Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute Perinatal Program, the first of its kind in Louisville and Southern Indiana, provides specialized support for managing diabetes before, during and after pregnancy. Integrated within the Norton Children’s Perinatal Center, the program brings together a team with diabetes expertise, specializing in complex pregnancies. This includes maternal-fetal medicine specialists, diabetes educators and clinical dietitians, working collaboratively to develop a personalized care plan that addresses your unique needs and ensures the best possible health for both you and your baby.
Your providers collaborate with endocrinologists and primary care providers when needed to ensure seamless care and support. Services include prepregnancy counseling, pregnancy monitoring and postpartum care, providing a full spectrum of care designed to help you thrive throughout your pregnancy.
Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute is part of Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s.
Care may include:
The Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute teams provide specialized care for pregnancies affected by diabetes while working with the patient’s regular OB/GYN and other members of the care team.
The goal is to give you coordinated, specialized support throughout your pregnancy while helping you manage diabetes and reduce the risk of complications.
Diabetes can make pregnancy more complex and may require additional monitoring. Your individual level of risk depends on factors such as your type of diabetes, blood glucose control, diabetes-related health conditions and other pregnancy factors.
Yes. Many people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes have healthy pregnancies and babies. Planning before pregnancy, managing blood glucose and receiving appropriate prenatal care can help reduce risks.
Type 1 diabetes can increase the risk of complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, excessive or restricted fetal growth, birth defects, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Careful blood glucose management and specialized prenatal care can help reduce risks.
Type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of high blood pressure, preeclampsia, excessive fetal growth, birth defects, preterm birth and other pregnancy complications. Your individual risk depends on your overall health and blood glucose control.
Your OB/GYN or diabetes care provider may recommend consultation with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists provide additional expertise for pregnancies affected by preexisting diabetes and can coordinate care with your regular OB/GYN.
Yes. Optimizing blood glucose before pregnancy can help reduce the risk of complications. If you are considering pregnancy, schedule a preconception appointment with your healthcare team before trying to conceive.
Poorly controlled blood glucose around the time of conception can increase the risk of certain birth defects. This is one reason preconception diabetes management is important.
Yes. Pregestational diabetes is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. Your pregnancy care team will monitor your blood pressure and other signs of complications.
Possibly. Your provider may recommend additional ultrasounds to monitor your baby’s growth and development based on your type of diabetes and individual pregnancy risks.
Insulin is commonly used to manage diabetes during pregnancy. Your diabetes care team will determine which medications and doses are appropriate for you.
Your diabetes does not go away after delivery if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. However, your insulin or medication needs may change substantially after your baby is born. Your diabetes care team will provide an individualized postpartum plan.
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy in someone who did not have diagnosed diabetes before pregnancy. Pregestational diabetes means Type 1, Type 2 or another form of diabetes was present before pregnancy.