Understand the role of insulin in postpartum health with Meri Sehat. Get expert insights for a smooth transition into motherhood.

Insulin And Postpartum

Introduction

The postpartum period refers to the time after you give birth. Your hormonal levels will be fluctuating as your body recovers from the physical and emotional toll of the pregnancy. You&rsquo;ll probably be overwhelmed by all sorts of emotions during this period.

Besides mood, these changes can affect your blood sugar regulation, particularly if you had <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/diabetes-gestational">gestational diabetes</a>. However, you can have postpartum diabetes even if you did not have gestational diabetes. 
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Around 2-10% of all pregnant women in the US have gestational diabetes<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. The condition often shows up during the middle of pregnancy when the placenta produces hormones that prevent the body from efficiently using insulin. Consequently, glucose concentrates in the blood rather than being absorbed by the cells.

The best thing to do after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is to look after yourself as much as possible. It&rsquo;s crucial to monitor blood glucose during labor and birth. While eating healthy and staying active during pregnancy can help control blood sugar levels, you may need to take insulin as well to control your blood sugar levels and avoid complications, like preeclampsia and birth defects, for you and your baby. 
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Insulin can be injected via pen or syringe and it&rsquo;s generally safe to use as prescribed by your doctor. Using too much insulin or skipping a meal, however, may cause hypoglycemia which can be dangerous for both you and your baby.

Note: If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, refer to a professional doctor before getting pregnant as uncontrolled gestational diabetes is not safe for your baby. Moreover, several diabetes tablets are not safe to be taken during pregnancy so your doctor can guide you regarding insulin injections<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>. 
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Understanding the importance of insulin in pregnancy

If you were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it&rsquo;s important that you get tested for diabetes after delivery. Your doctor will order regular glucose checking for a few days after delivery, usually before breakfast and two hours after meals, to ensure your glucose levels are within the normal range. An oral glucose tolerance test is recommended 6-12 weeks after birth<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>. 
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If your blood glucose level is:

<ul>
	<li>Normal &ndash; Get checked every three years</li>
	<li>Pre-Diabetes &ndash; Get checked every year; talk to your doctor about minimizing your risk of diabetes</li>
	<li>Diabetes &ndash; Consult your doctor and set up a treatment plan 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The symptoms of gestational diabetes usually disappear in the postpartum period as blood sugar levels return to normal after labor and any medications, including insulin, will be stopped after your baby is born. But it&rsquo;s also possible that it progresses to type 2 diabetes. Around 50% of women with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. 
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Getting checked helps because type 2 diabetes presents few symptoms during the early stages of the disease. With a timely diagnosis, you can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes by continuing with your treatment, eating healthily, and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.

Note: For future pregnancies, make sure to inform your healthcare team about your history of gestational diabetes. 
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According to the American Diabetes Association, breastfeeding can help you manage your diabetes<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>.

For the baby, breastfeeding for the first six months at least means a reduced risk of developing type 1 diabetes, obesity leading to type 2 diabetes, and other health issues like eczema and respiratory disease. For the mother, benefits include a lower risk of developing health conditions like breast and ovarian cancers and type 2 diabetes in addition to a quicker recovery after birth. 
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That said, is it safe to take insulin while breastfeeding your newborn? Yes, it is<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. This is because insulin molecules are large enough to not pass through the breast milk to the baby.

However, the dose needs to be adjusted accordingly after the pregnancy and, again, during breastfeeding. Ideally, the blood sugar level while breastfeeding should be between 90 and 180 mg/dL.

These levels may drop during breastfeeding, a condition known as hypoglycemia, so you should eat before each session to keep the glucose levels stable. And check your blood glucose levels every time before and after nursing. 
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Key Points

<ul>
	<li>Gestational diabetes goes away soon after birth in the majority of cases. This is because of a drop in pregnancy hormones and the insulin resistance associated with them.</li>
	<li>If you have had gestational diabetes or are at risk of postpartum diabetes, you should monitor your blood sugar regularly during the postpartum period.</li>
	<li>Breastfeeding may help reduce insulin and blood sugar levels after birth.</li>
	<li>If you started taking insulin during pregnancy, it may be stopped after childbirth. But, depending on your blood glucose levels, you may have to restart insulin again.</li>
	<li>If you were taking insulin before pregnancy, you will most probably continue to do so. However, the dosage and the type of insulin may be reviewed by your doctor.</li>
	<li>Lifestyle recommendations may further help prevent developing type 2 diabetes. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

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