Some complications of diabetes can be aggravated by pregnancy. However, good control of blood sugar prior to conception and during pregnancy can reduce or eliminate the problems that can occur in infants born to mothers with diabetes mellitus. Macrosomia, or large size, is a classic feature of infants of diabetic mothers, but good glucose control has helped to reduce the incidence of macrosomia and many other complications. Infants of women with poorly controlled diabetes are at risk for birth defects, but control of maternal blood glucose both before conception and during pregnancy reduces the risk to that of the general population. Special care by teams of physicians, nurses, registered dietitians, psychologists, exercise therapists, ophthalmologists, and others may be needed to help women to control blood sugar during pregnancy.
Women learn to test their blood sugar four or more times daily and test their urine for ketones.