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Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-existing Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby
A down-to-earth insiderÌs guide to a healthy pregnancy with diabetes Thinking about having a baby but worried about your type 1 or type 2 diabetes? ThereÌs a reason for uncontrolled diabetes can lead to health complications for both women and their children. But keeping a tight rein on your blood sugarsÛbefore and during pregnancyÛcan help reduce if not eliminate the risks. Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-Existing Diabetes explains exactly how to have the healthiest pregnancy possible while balancing the rigors of insulin, diet, exercise, and blood sugar control that are the foundation of diabetes management. Author Cheryl Alkon has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 30 years, and brings a wealth of understanding to the subject. Including the insights of more than 50 women with diabetes and leading medical experts, as well as the latest scientific research, Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-Existing Diabetes With this myth-busting resource, youÌll be armed with the essential information, hope, and inspiration you need for a healthy pregnancy. "
- GenresHealthNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
31 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Alkon
2 books11 followersCheryl Alkon is a longtime writer, editor and researcher who has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1977. Her blog, Managing the Sweetness Within (www.thesweetnesswithin.blogspot.com) chronicled her efforts to get and stay pregnancy while balancing her diabetes.
"Balancing Pregnancy With Pre-Existing Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby" is the first insider's guide about what it is like to do pregnancy with pre-existing diabetes right.
Featuring insight from more than 50 women with pre-existing diabetes, as well as top medical experts, topics covered include preconception planning ("If you can, you gotta plan"), what happens trimester by trimester ("Tests, and bloods and rockin' goals"), nutrition, exercise, insulin, technology talk (insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and more), planning for the big day, the big day, and early parenthood with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. An appendix covers the specifics of infertility and pregnancy loss as well.
Cheryl has been published in the New York Times, Boston, Body+Soul, More, Woman's Day and other print and online media. She and her family live in Massachusetts.
For more information, see her website at www.CherylAlkon.com."
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 6, 2015
For the record, I’m not pregnant or trying to get pregnant, but I figured this would be a smart book to read just in case. And I definitely learned a lot. I highly recommend this book for diabetic women who want to know more about managing their diabetes while dealing with the additional stress of pregnancy. Whether you’re a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic, it’s a really excellent resource. The author provides you with the most current blood sugar guidelines and tips on how not to freak out when your blood sugar is out of range (which it will be), as well as steps to correct your sugar when it’s out of range.
The book is divided into chapters dealing with pre-pregnancy health, what to expect and how to cope with the “fun” of each trimester, what your nutritional requirements will likely be, how to deal with blood sugar fluctuations during labor and surgery, as well as how to continue caring for yourself once you have a needy newborn who might (will) impinge on your me-time. She also has a chapter dealing with diabetes and infertility, which I mostly skimmed.
I wish this book had been available when I was expecting my daughter, who is almost six now, as it would have been not only really educational, but also a great comfort to read what other women have to say about coping, managing, and sometimes not-coping and not-managing. Also noted and appreciated that the author interviewed women from a variety of backgrounds in terms of sexuality and class; there were a lot of income levels represented, and many women who were like “yeah, I don’t have an insulin pump or birth control because my insurance doesn’t cover it/I don’t have insurance.” That’s really nice to hear. As a diabetic, you often feel like you can’t do certain things (like get pregnant) until all the chips have fallen into place, with a job/income level/partner who can help you through all the challenges. The author also acknowledges that some women won’t be close to their doctors, or have access to good doctors, while pregnant, which was my experience (in central Florida, naturally), and a really terrifying one. Her section on dealing with nurses at the hospital who are probably scared of treating you, because they don’t know how, was somewhat therapeutic, as it took me about two years after my daughter’s birth to be able to even think of my hospital stay without feeling pure rage at the incompetency we dealt with. For this reason, the breastfeeding section was great; I would have found it so helpful while nursing. When I asked my endocrinologist how my blood sugar would be impacted by nursing, he said, “It will lower it” but provided no recommendations on how to deal with it. When I asked how my daughter’s health would be impacted if she nursed while my blood sugar was high, he laughed and said, “Good question!” Many specialists just won’t be as on top of this extremely important stuff as you’d hope they would be. Anyway, six years later my own experiences with breastfeeding have been backed up by the information in this book.
Interwoven throughout the book are discussions about the things that can go wrong. She often brings up macrosomia (big bebe), and speaks with women whose babies were immediately taken to intensive care due to hypoglycemia. I still wish she had discussed other potential complications more – perhaps there wasn’t enough space, as it’s a long list. However, my daughter had hydronephrosis at birth, which thankfully cleared up by about ten months. As I understand it, this is a common problem in babies of diabetic and non-diabetic moms, and I’m sure there are several other common, not-extremely-serious-but-still-scary ailments, so I was hoping for some more attention to those. It would have been much more useful to me than, for instance, her section on choosing birth control after giving birth. This info can be found in any pregnancy guide, and as a diabetic women you likely already know a decent amount about what bc works best for you and how it impacts your glucose – so it seemed unnecessary, and was boring to hear stories about why one woman chose an IUD over the pill, etc.
Finally, this book is great in that several of the women were already dealing with complications when they became pregnant. Listening to their stories was really encouraging and comforting, as they still managed to have healthy pregnancies and children despite dealing with complications like retinopathy or nephropathy. Or, sometimes the outcome wasn’t happy and healthy, which is important to know is a real possibility too.
In the end, excellent, informative, five-star, and a really important addition to the books out there on diabetes.
The book is divided into chapters dealing with pre-pregnancy health, what to expect and how to cope with the “fun” of each trimester, what your nutritional requirements will likely be, how to deal with blood sugar fluctuations during labor and surgery, as well as how to continue caring for yourself once you have a needy newborn who might (will) impinge on your me-time. She also has a chapter dealing with diabetes and infertility, which I mostly skimmed.
I wish this book had been available when I was expecting my daughter, who is almost six now, as it would have been not only really educational, but also a great comfort to read what other women have to say about coping, managing, and sometimes not-coping and not-managing. Also noted and appreciated that the author interviewed women from a variety of backgrounds in terms of sexuality and class; there were a lot of income levels represented, and many women who were like “yeah, I don’t have an insulin pump or birth control because my insurance doesn’t cover it/I don’t have insurance.” That’s really nice to hear. As a diabetic, you often feel like you can’t do certain things (like get pregnant) until all the chips have fallen into place, with a job/income level/partner who can help you through all the challenges. The author also acknowledges that some women won’t be close to their doctors, or have access to good doctors, while pregnant, which was my experience (in central Florida, naturally), and a really terrifying one. Her section on dealing with nurses at the hospital who are probably scared of treating you, because they don’t know how, was somewhat therapeutic, as it took me about two years after my daughter’s birth to be able to even think of my hospital stay without feeling pure rage at the incompetency we dealt with. For this reason, the breastfeeding section was great; I would have found it so helpful while nursing. When I asked my endocrinologist how my blood sugar would be impacted by nursing, he said, “It will lower it” but provided no recommendations on how to deal with it. When I asked how my daughter’s health would be impacted if she nursed while my blood sugar was high, he laughed and said, “Good question!” Many specialists just won’t be as on top of this extremely important stuff as you’d hope they would be. Anyway, six years later my own experiences with breastfeeding have been backed up by the information in this book.
Interwoven throughout the book are discussions about the things that can go wrong. She often brings up macrosomia (big bebe), and speaks with women whose babies were immediately taken to intensive care due to hypoglycemia. I still wish she had discussed other potential complications more – perhaps there wasn’t enough space, as it’s a long list. However, my daughter had hydronephrosis at birth, which thankfully cleared up by about ten months. As I understand it, this is a common problem in babies of diabetic and non-diabetic moms, and I’m sure there are several other common, not-extremely-serious-but-still-scary ailments, so I was hoping for some more attention to those. It would have been much more useful to me than, for instance, her section on choosing birth control after giving birth. This info can be found in any pregnancy guide, and as a diabetic women you likely already know a decent amount about what bc works best for you and how it impacts your glucose – so it seemed unnecessary, and was boring to hear stories about why one woman chose an IUD over the pill, etc.
Finally, this book is great in that several of the women were already dealing with complications when they became pregnant. Listening to their stories was really encouraging and comforting, as they still managed to have healthy pregnancies and children despite dealing with complications like retinopathy or nephropathy. Or, sometimes the outcome wasn’t happy and healthy, which is important to know is a real possibility too.
In the end, excellent, informative, five-star, and a really important addition to the books out there on diabetes.
November 16, 2020
I think this is a great resource for diabetics, especially at the point when you are just starting to think about becoming pregnant. There is a lot of great information that will help you prepare for pregnancy, wrap your head around T1D and pregnancy, and inform you about how to be in the best position for you and your baby's health. I found that really valuable. It was also nice to hear the stories from real women who live with diabetes and have gone through pregnancy. It helps to counteract the unsolicited opinions you might be getting from people in your life who watched Steel Magnolias. The women's stories help the whole experience feel much more relatable than it might coming from your doctor.
The birth plan chapter was also helpful to start thinking about the various extra factors that play into going into labor and being on insulin. Some of the other sections felt less specific and more anecdotal. I would definitely recommend this book if you'll have a more generalized health care team/OB for your pregnancy. It will help you be your own advocate and make sure you're not missing anything.
May 31, 2020
A good review of all things dealing with pregnancy and diabetes. I learned a few things, re-learned many things, and reviewed many things that I'm trying to currently do.
I didn't know that often blood sugars/insulin needs stabilize or slightly decrease at about 36-37 weeks, because the placenta stops growing and the hormones it makes stabilize. I also learned that there is a potential link between consuming intact foreign protein in early influences (found in cow's milk-based formulas) and developing type-1 diabetes. Many doctors recommend a hydrolyzed formula (like Nutramigen or Alimentum) for type-1 mamas to feed their babies.
I didn't know that often blood sugars/insulin needs stabilize or slightly decrease at about 36-37 weeks, because the placenta stops growing and the hormones it makes stabilize. I also learned that there is a potential link between consuming intact foreign protein in early influences (found in cow's milk-based formulas) and developing type-1 diabetes. Many doctors recommend a hydrolyzed formula (like Nutramigen or Alimentum) for type-1 mamas to feed their babies.
June 28, 2010
This is the best book I have ever read on diabetes. I wish it had been published when I was pregnant with my children. As a type one diabetic, it is very hard to find books that agree with a diabetics view on being diabetic. So many authors who write diabetic books have never walked a mile in our shoes. This author did an excellent job of explaining how each diabetic is different and how what may work for one may not work for another. I enjoyed that she used quotes from several people so that you could get several perspectives. I actually learned some things I didn't know and found the book very helpful even though I am not expecting at this time. Highly Recommended Reading!!
December 11, 2010
As a type 2 diabetic who is getting ready to try to conceive, I was thrilled when this book was published. I haven't been able to find anything else on the subject, yet I want to learn as much as possible to prepare myself for a healthy pregnancy.
The book is filled with a lot of solid information, including not only expert recommendations, but experiences and advice from diabetic moms who have been there. There are some great tips that I was able to mark for future reference.
The only criticism I can think of would be that it covers the same general pregnancy advice as many other books (ie not specific to diabetics), but it never hurts to reinforce that information.
The book is filled with a lot of solid information, including not only expert recommendations, but experiences and advice from diabetic moms who have been there. There are some great tips that I was able to mark for future reference.
The only criticism I can think of would be that it covers the same general pregnancy advice as many other books (ie not specific to diabetics), but it never hurts to reinforce that information.
November 5, 2012
I am sure that I will be returning to this one. I love that it's written by a woman who has lived it. And that the women quoted sound real. Which encourages me. This isn't some dry, discouraging technical medical book. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times. I can relate even though I'm not there yet. If you're looking for something more than freak-you-out Google search results, read this book. It's generally positive, but without glossing over the potential challenges.
October 5, 2013
Liked it well enough. My favourite part was Clemma Muller's homebirth. I also really appreciated reading about Elizabeth's natural hospital birth. Diabetic birth stories riddled with intervention tend to really stress me out.
I thought the breastfeeding section was interesting. Especially the part where we're told to not read/listen to horror stories right after the author recounted her story of breastfeeding failure (really bad and discouraging way to start off a section on breastfeeding).
I thought the breastfeeding section was interesting. Especially the part where we're told to not read/listen to horror stories right after the author recounted her story of breastfeeding failure (really bad and discouraging way to start off a section on breastfeeding).
November 19, 2014
This book makes you feel a little less like being a diabetic that wants to be a mom is crazy talk. It definitely made me feel better about a lot of things (like not freaking out absolutely every time my blood sugar is a little out of range). Since my high risk OBs are wonderful, the most useful part of this book for me was a) feeling a little less alone in the world of diabetic pregnancy and b) the info about breastfeeding and postpartum issues I might have to deal with as a diabetic.
July 1, 2010
I liked this book - lots of good info. Lots of diabetics shared their experiences throughout.
RE-READ 10/1/11: Read again and learned a lot again. I'm disappointed in the lack of diabetes pregnancy books out there. Good thing I found this gem.
RE-READ 10/1/11: Read again and learned a lot again. I'm disappointed in the lack of diabetes pregnancy books out there. Good thing I found this gem.
January 12, 2012
Was so excited when this came out, as there are very few resources out there for Type 1 moms. Unfortunately, this book did not deliver; it provided no new information, and was more a collection of blog comments
August 26, 2011
Some good basic info- didn't change my life or anything but I may pick it up again when I'm preggers.
October 8, 2012
I wish I had known about this book earlier - it is amazing and a must read for diabetics when even considering pregnancy and great for those already expecting.
June 11, 2013
JUST researching.
Aaaaand I am done reading the book/sufficiently terrified of ever becoming a mother.
Aaaaand I am done reading the book/sufficiently terrified of ever becoming a mother.
December 1, 2015
This is a very informative book. It is one of the few out there on people with diabetes and pregnancy. I'm not pregnant nor am I planning on getting pregnant any time soon.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews