Type 1 Diabetes & Pregnancy: 3 Myths You Need to Know About

*Disclaimer: All content and information in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only.

Thinking of starting a family and living with T1D? Or are you already expecting? You probably have a lot of questions and concerns about how it is possible to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. In this blog post, we are clarifying the top 3 misconceptions about pregnancy and type 1 diabetes.

Myth #1: You WILL give birth to a large baby

Fact #1: You COULD give birth to a bigger baby, but it likely has to do with factors that are unrelated to diabetes. While elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy may contribute to the baby's size, genetics often have a stronger influence on the baby's birth weight.

Myth #2: You WILL have a complicated pregnancy

Fact #2: Not necessarily! While having type 1 diabetes will place you within a high-risk category, that doesn't mean that you will develop complications before, during or after pregnancy. T1Ds are at higher risk for preeclampsia, that doesn't mean that you WILL develop it. Additionally, most women believe that they may need to be induced and have a scheduled cesarean section. Truth is, you may require a c-section for reasons unrelated to diabetes or go into labor without needing to be induced. There are a number of factors that influence how your baby enters this world, but the most important factor is the health and safety of you and baby during the big day!

Myth #3: Your baby WILL be born with a low blood sugar

Fact #3: Upon delivery your baby COULD have a low blood sugar, but it can be a result of many different things. Being born with a low blood sugar is incredibly common which is why their blood sugar levels are checked at birth for all babies. If your baby is born with a low blood sugar, it can be easily treated with a shot of dextrose. Your baby may require increased blood glucose monitoring for up to 48 hours and may require additional feedings and/or IV glucose to maintain blood sugar levels.

Pregnancy and type 1 diabetes can be a very scary and challenging time, but it is possible to have a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery for you and baby. If you are currently pregnant or trying to conceive, check out Keeping it 100 Radio: Uncensored Diabetes Conversations: Episode 70: 3 Myths About Pregnancy with Lemma Brown, RDN. Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts .