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In an older study, some 19 to 44 percent of pregnant women with diabetes of all kinds experienced hypoglycemia.
Though high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is more common in pregnancy, the changes in your body during pregnancy and how you react to insulin can also make your blood sugar drop dangerously low. That causes a condition called hypoglycemia. A blood sugar reading of less than 60 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is considered hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia during pregnancy happens most often in women with diabetes.
Hypoglycemia is uncommon during pregnancy if you don’t have diabetes. Infrequent or mild hypoglycemia usually doesn’t cause a mother or her baby any serious harm. Although there is no surefire way to stop hypoglycemia, you can lower your risk. Regularly consume food, and if you have diabetes, keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels. Recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia and inform your physician of any attacks you may experience.
Having an occasional hypoglycemic episode while pregnant is unlikely to harm you or your unborn child. When it’s frequent, there can be problems. To receive and interpret signals from the body, the brain needs glucose.
A hormone called insulin transports glucose, also known as blood sugar, from the blood into the body’s cells, where it is then either stored or used as fuel. Your body produces more insulin to support your growing unborn child during pregnancy. Additionally, being pregnant can increase your resistance to insulin. Because of this, many pregnant women develop gestational diabetes.
When a pregnant person experiences hypoglycemia symptoms, they should consult their doctor to determine the precise cause. Two types of hypoglycemia can occur during pregnancy:
A hormone called insulin aids in regulating the body’s glucose levels. A woman’s body needs more insulin during pregnancy because the placenta produces more glucose. This can make it challenging for a woman’s body to regulate glucose along with hormonal changes.
After giving birth, women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes will need to continue managing their diabetes.
A woman might need to take insulin or other medications if these strategies don’t work. One must carefully follow their doctor’s instructions because diabetes medications can result in hypoglycemia.
Pregnant women who also have another risk factor, such as diabetes, are more likely to experience hypoglycemia due to a variety of lifestyle factors.