From diabetes statistics taken in 2011, 8.3 million people have diabetes, 18.8 million are diagnosed, 8.8 million are undiagnosed, and 79 million individuals within the U.S. are pre-diabetics.

Type 1, 2 or gestational diabetes are all dangerous and can even be fatal during a pregnancy. North Country local Jacqui LaClair is one mother that knows all to well how terrifying and challenging dealing with diabetes can be during pregnancy. Mrs. LaClair and her husband Brian had no idea that she had gestational diabetes when she became pregnant with her first child.

“I had no idea I had gestational diabetes” said Mrs. LaClair, “it felt like I had the flu, kept getting light headed and the Doctor’s of course kept saying that it was normal.” But, Mrs. LaClair’s symptoms were not normal and only got worse, which was when specialists finally diagnosed Mrs. LaClair with gestational diabetes.

“At one point, I started losing consciousness and became so disorientated that I didn’t even remember my children’s names”, said Mrs. LaClair. If the condition would have continued, Mrs. LaClair could have fallen into a diabetic coma. Mrs. LaClair and her husband have four healthy children and are thankful they monitored all four pregnancies with the help of Doctors and specialists.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), having any type of diabetes during pregnancy can cause serious health risks to both fetus and mother.

Mother’s with type 1 or 2 and gestational diabetes can experience the following conditions:

·    High blood pressure
·    Preeclampsia
·    Kidney disease
·    Nerve damage
·    Heart disease
·    Blindness  
·    Miscarriage
·    Preterm birth
·    Stillbirth
·    C-Section

Mother’s with type 1 or 2 diabetes can cause an unborn child to have the following health problems:

·    Birth defects, especially of the brain, spine, and heart
·    Increased birth weight
·    Nerve damage to the shoulder during delivery
·    Low blood sugar after birth
·    Increased chance of overweight, obesity, and/or diabetes later in life

Gestational diabetes in pregnant women, can equally cause health problems such as birth defects to an unborn child. A diabetic coma can occur in pregnant women who have any type of diabetes. Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of maternal death occurring during pregnancy.

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Reported by: Sonyo Estavillo
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