Diabetes and Pregnancy

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Genetic Factors in Diabetes: Our Family Story

My mother has Type 2 diabetes. I often wondered how she developed it until I looked at our family history. My maternal grandfather suffered from diabetes for many years, and my mother's younger brother also continues to battle with it. Looking at these patterns, I've come to realize the significant role genetics plays in many diseases.

I have a similar experience myself. Despite staying lean throughout my life and following a mostly vegetarian diet, my cholesterol levels remain quite high. Curious about this, I once consulted my doctor. I don’t drink or smoke, I eat a vegetarian diet, and I exercise regularly—so why were my levels elevated? The answer was surprisingly simple: "It's genetic."

Fortunately, because of my current healthy lifestyle, I don’t need medication, and there are no other risk factors. Still, I sometimes find myself worrying about my high cholesterol levels.

Genetics and Environment: Two Key Factors in Diabetes Development

We certainly can't ignore lifestyle factors - the environmental aspects. Rather than arguing which is more important, I believe we need to pay attention to both factors and maintain overall health awareness. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), while Type 2 diabetes shows strong genetic correlations, lifestyle and family habits also play crucial roles. While obesity patterns often repeat within families, making it difficult to separate genetic and environmental factors, maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and proper weight management can help prevent or delay the disease in both adults and children.

Pregnancy and Diabetes: A Unique Challenge for Women

My mother's case is particularly relevant, as women face additional health risks during pregnancy. When she had my older brother, she recovered quickly after childbirth due to her younger age. However, when she had me, she struggled with weight management and diabetes control. This was especially challenging as she had to lead the family as its head, making self-care even more difficult.

Many of my friends have also struggled with gestational diabetes. There are numerous mothers who face diabetes challenges before, during, or after pregnancy. My cousin had to take insulin injections throughout her pregnancy due to gestational diabetes. While she fortunately recovered through consistent management, there are likely many cases like my mother who had pre-existing diabetes or couldn't maintain proper postpartum care.

Personal Experience: Two Pregnancies and Recovery

My experience wasn't too different. After my first child, I recovered within a month, but after my second, weight loss was slower, and overall health management was more challenging. This experience made me more conscious about weight management. Since childcare allows little time for rest, mothers must prioritize their health even more.

Scientific Evidence: Managing Diabetes and Pregnancy

ADA research emphasizes the importance of strict blood sugar control before, during, and after pregnancy for both mother and baby's health. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and blood sugar control help prevent complications, and early planning with medical professionals leads to better outcomes. Maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels during pregnancy can prevent congenital abnormalities, and breastfeeding reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes for both mother and child.

After childbirth, insulin requirements decrease rapidly, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. Additionally, women with diabetes have a higher risk of postpartum depression, requiring careful emotional health monitoring.

Practical Health Management Tips: The Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar

If you have a family history of diabetes, you should consider yourself pre-diabetic and take precautions, even if you don't currently have diabetes. For diabetics, skipping meals for weight management is dangerous due to the risk of hypoglycemia.

Recent research shows positive results from clinical trials where Type 2 diabetes patients consumed 30ml of apple cider vinegar (ACV) daily. After eight weeks, the ACV group showed significant decreases in fasting blood sugar and HbA1C levels, along with improvements in LDL (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol levels. However, vinegar must be diluted with water to avoid stomach irritation.

A Message of Hope: To Those Dreaming of Pregnancy

After two surgeries, pregnancy was difficult for me. Having my second child was a great blessing, though I worried about the baby's health throughout the pregnancy. While I'm grateful for my child's current health, I want to send encouragement to prospective mothers facing similar challenges.

Childbirth requires significant sacrifice. I hope you can cherish your body and mind and invest sufficient time in health management. To those worried about pregnancy and childbirth due to diabetes or other health concerns: through thorough consultation and preparation with medical professionals, healthy childbirth is possible. I sincerely pray that you'll be blessed with holding your precious baby in your arms.

Dear subscribers, in this newsletter, we've discussed diabetes and pregnancy through my family's story and health management experiences. I imagine many of you have similar experiences or concerns. I hope this story has provided some comfort and help.

Have a healthy week, and see you in the next letter!

With love,

Autumn

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! May your day be filled with love, warmth, and sweet moments! ♥️

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on personal experiences and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this newsletter.

References: 

American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Diabetes and pregnancy. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/pregnancy

American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Genetics of diabetes. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/genetics-diabetes

Jafarirad, S., Elahi, M.-R., Mansoori, A., Khanzadeh, A., & Haghighizadeh, M.-H. (2023). The improvement effect of apple cider vinegar as a functional food on anthropometric indices, blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic patients: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare, 4, Article 1288786. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcdhc.2023.1288786

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