Managing your blood glucose

Keeping your blood glucose well controlled has many benefits, including:

Reducing the risk during pregnancy

All of the problems caused by gestational diabetes on the previous two pages are reduced by good control of blood glucose.

Avoiding severe hypos

Hypos occur when your blood glucose falls too low. It is difficult to avoid hypoglycaemia completely when your diabetes is treated with insulin and, if your everyday blood glucose is fairly low, hypos may seem more of a risk.

Many people, however, find that it is the big swings in blood glucose, from very high to very low, which may lead to severe hypoglycaemia. When their blood glucose is well controlled they may feel mildly hypo slightly more often, but severe hypos are rarer.

Hyperglycaemia occurs when you let your glucose get too high and it isn't good for you anymore than low blood glucose is, and letting your glucose get very high may lead to a risk of diabetic coma.

Keeping an eye on your blood glucose is the best way to avoid both hypo and hyper glycaemia.

Feeling better today

If you keep your blood glucose well controlled you may find that you feel fitter and have more energy. With pregnancy, energy levels can often fluctuate anyway, which is all the more reason to control your blood glucose levels.