Having Diabetes Before or During Pregnancy Can Lead to Risks for Mom and Baby

In the U.S., one in nine women has diabetes, and six percent of women who gave birth developed gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, according to a recent report from the National Institutes of Health.

During pregnancy, controlling your blood glucose becomes more difficult — and more important. The extra risk of high blood glucose means extra risk for the mother and their developing baby.

“Having diabetes during pregnancy can lead to increased risks or complications for a mom or her baby,” explained Ibrahim Hammad, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist with Intermountain Health. “Whe...