5 Steps You Should Take Before Pregnancy To Lower Your Baby’s Risk Of Diabetes

When it comes to ensuring the health of our offspring, we usually focus solely on pregnancy healthcare or maternal health during pregnancy. Most people recognize that women with diabetes or gestational diabetes face a higher risk of pregnancy complications and that their babies are also more vulnerable to metabolic syndrome disorders such as diabetes as they grow older. However, most people fail to recognize that the dietary and lifestyle choices of both parents have a significant impaair nike sneakers isolateur cloture electrique ruban adidas yeezy 700 v3 adidas yeezy 700 v3 balmain carbone fragrantica cheap yeezys táskafül bőr detske lyžiarske nohavice 134 140 kilpi predam adidas yeezy shoes handcitruspers brandon aiyuk youth jersey babyphone mit alexa verbinden nike air max ivo black and white brandon aiyuk jersey puma suede classic velvet sneakers in cordovan leather calfskin velvet tongue and toe cap ct on foetal growth and development, as well as the lifetime risk of various diseases, and these choices affect outcomes even before conception. This is why it has become increasingly important to plan ahead before you even consider having a baby.

Here are 5 simple steps that you should take before trying to have a baby to ensure his or her health.

Get Preconception Counselling

Preconception education or counselling should be a routine feature of healthcare or education as large numbers have unplanned pregnancies. Nevertheless, parents who wish to conceive should seek preconception counselling as experts can provide personalised recommendations and advice based on familial, genetic, dietary, and other lifestyle factors that could affect the pregnancy outcome and a child’s risk of diabetes. 

Make Dietary Changes

When planning a pregnancy, nutritional status and caloric intake are all important to maintain healthy body weight. Both obesity and underweight are associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes for the baby. Deficiencies in some nutrients such as folic acid, vitamin D, iron, and B12 are also known to threaten foetal health, even posing long term risks. This makes it vital for parents to address dietary deficiencies and caloric excesses before conception as many of these changes can take time to produce results.  

Increase Physical Activity

Not only is a sedentary lifestyle associated with weight gain, but it is also linked to other pregnancy problems. Research shows that maintaining an active lifestyle before and during the first trimester of pregnancy can protect against complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia or preterm births. This in turn, lowers the lifetime risk of metabolic syndrome diseases such as obesity and diabetes in babies. Physical activity has also been shown to significantly improve chances of conception, including with IVF.

Quit Smoking Earlier

Most people today recognize the importance of quitting smoking if you get pregnant, but it is now clear that both parents should quit smoking before even planning to conceive. The risks of miscarriage, low birth weight, stillbirth, congenital defects and susceptibility to diabetes are higher when tobacco products have been used just before pregnancy. This means that you shouldn’t wait to quit smoking only once you get pregnant. Give up the habit now if you wish to get pregnant in the near future. 

Avoid Alcohol & Illicit Drugs

Once again, it’s common knowledge that alcohol must be avoided during pregnancy, but it is best to begin limiting intake a few months before trying to conceive as it also affects fertility levels. More important in the context of lowering your baby’s risk of developing diabetes, it should be noted that the use of illicit drugs such as cocaine during or even before pregnancy can increase the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage and behavioural problems, as well as preterm birth and lower birth weight, which are associated with increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome disorders like diabetes later in life. 

This guidance is by no means comprehensive, so couples planning to conceive should speak to a doctor or preconception counsellor for advice, especially if you have any risk factors that may increase your baby’s likelihood of developing diabetes.

References:

• https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-4755-11-S3-S8
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6075697/
• https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/ld/preconception-care-dietary-and-lifestyle-advice
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6986386/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3876901/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2992201/