INSULIN THERAPY DURING PREGNANCY
You Have Been Prescribed Insulin Therapy:
A.Your insulin needs may change weekly because of the change in your hormones (you become more insulin resistant as your pregnancy progresses).
B.Insulin therapy is safe for your baby. Insulin does not cross the placenta like sugar does.
C.The insulin lowers your blood sugar and therefore controls the amount of sugar that goes to your baby.
D.You may have been prescribed Humulin insulin, which works very much like your own body’s insulin.
E.Some of the insulin therapies have a mix of short-term regular (clear) insulin with intermediate-acting (cloudy) insulin:
1.You will be instructed in how to mix and give yourself your insulin.
2.The first key to insulin therapy is to be able to recognize signs of too much and too little insulin. A chart is included to post on your refrigerator (see Table III.6).
3.The second key is to let people know you are on insulin. You need a Medical Aalert bracelet or necklace as well as information to put in your car and purse/billfold.
4.The third key is to have your baby and yourself evaluated more often when on insulin therapy:
a.You need to be seen more frequently as recommended by your healthcare provider.
b.You will have extra testing to make sure the baby is doing well and to make sure you are doing well, too.
F.You need to check your blood sugars multiple times a day. Your blood sugar targets are the following:
1.Fasting ___________________________________________________________
2.After breakfast ___________________________________________________________
3.After lunch ___________________________________________________________
4.After dinner ___________________________________________________________
5.Before going to bed ___________________________________________________________
G.You will be instructed to check your urine for ketones when you are sick or if you have high blood sugar.
Activity: It is important to continue to exercise.
Diet: Eat a good, healthy diet. You will be instructed on how many calories to eat. Eat six smaller meals a day; with insulin, it is important to eat snacks. It is also important to try to eat at the same times each day.
You Need to Notify the Office If:
A.You have moderate ketones in your urine.
B.You are unable to eat or you have loose diarrhea stool.
C.You have insulin reactions (blood sugar is below 50 mg/dL or you feel the symptoms of low blood sugar).
D.You have blood sugars higher than 175 mg/dL for two readings.
E.You have any signs of infection.
F.You have a decrease in fetal movement or do not feel your baby moving.
G.Other: ___________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________
PATIENT TEACHING GUIDE