Diabetes

Because diabetes can cause problems during pregnancy for women and their developing babies, managing diabetes is important for both the mother and child (information about these problems is also available in Spanish).

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reviews the basics on their site (also available in Spanish), offering:

• A general overview of diabetes
• More specifics on Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes, including prevention and how diabetes can affect mom and baby

This site also includes information for those diagnosed with diabetes, such as:

• Pregnancy if you have Diabetes, which covers how diabetes can affect mom and baby and how moms with diabetes can prepare for pregnancy
• Actions for after the baby is born for mom’s and her baby’s health
• Preventing Type 2 Diabetes for those diagnosed with prediabetes and for mothers who had gestational diabetes as well as their children
• Diabetes Diet, Eating & Physical Activity, including foods and beverages to choose and limit, meal timing and more

CDC also offers information on diabetes meal planning, eating out and using food labels to help make healthier choices, recommendations to be prepared in case of an emergency or disaster, and other resources, including:

• an online prediabetes risk test (with a Spanish version available)
• information on free or low-cost screening options
• information on Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services (also available in Spanish)

CDC's Native Wellness Diabetes Program provides:

• Eagle Books - a colorful series for kids to encourage healthy living
• A toolkit with creative resources to reinforce Eagle Books type 2 diabetes prevention messages
• Educational materials that include posters with culturally relevant images and messages and videos to promote diabetes prevention
• Stories about traditional foods programs, cultural identity and the importance of food safety and preservation

 

Education Materials

My Native Plate, Diabetes Basics, and other downloadable education materials are available from the Indian Health Service as well as CDC’s Native Diabetes Wellness Program. 

A Healthy Pregnancy for Women With Diabetes Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
FAQs that cover what diabetes is, how it can affect pregnancy and the baby, how pregnancy can affect glucose levels, medications, breastfeeding, exercise, and more.

Am I at Risk for Gestational Diabetes? Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
A handout for use with participants on gestational diabetes that covers general information on gestational diabetes, who is at risk, getting tested, what gestational diabetes means for the mother and fetus, and action steps if diagnosed. Also available from this source is the handout, Managing Gestational Diabetes.