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Are insulin injections safe during pregnancy?
Question
My 33 years old wife is pregnant. Her recent blood test found 186 mg% blood glucose (1.5 hrs after food) and 0.25% glucose present in urine. Her gynaecologist has advised her insulin injections. Is insulin the only answer to gestational diabetes? Is it safe to take insulin during pregnancy? How to bring down the glucose level?
Expert Answer
D
Prof Dinesh DhanwalAug 24, 2009
Prof of Medicine and Head of Endocrinology,
Maulana Azad Medical College,
New Delhi
Maulana Azad Medical College,
New Delhi
Your wife has developed gestational diabetes, which is specific during pregnancy and most often disappears after delivery but she will remain a high risk for diabetes during her life. Although there are few studies which shows good safety of oral medications specially glibenclamide but no large studies available on this issue. Therefore it is best and in interest of both mother and child to use insulin during pregnancy. Go ahead and get her started on diet and insulin. Please note that there needs to be a tighter control of blood glucose levels during pregnancy.