September 23, 1999
Family Planning, Hypoglycemia
Question from Dayton, Ohio, USA:
My 17 year old daughter is 4 months pregnant. She has had Type 1 diabetes since age 9. She has seizures throughout the night and her blood sugar level can be as low as 30 and as high as 185. The frequency of the seizures has lessened over the past month due to a change in diet. She is now eating a snack before bedtime. Can these seizures affect the health of the unborn baby? Can she have future complications as a result of these seizures?
Answer:
It is important that your daughter’s obstetrician address these seizures and determine exactly what is causing them (low blood sugar or another disorder). There can be potential effects on the baby if mom stops breathing for a long period of time. It is also possible that your daughter could injure herself (a fall or other trauma) during a seizure. Make sure she discusses this with her doctor.
OWJ
