Myths & Facts

Women with T1D have been having healthy pregnancies for decades, but a handful of discouraging myths and misconceptions remain. Below, several of the most common myths and facts about pregnancy and T1D are explained.

Myth: Women with T1D have big babies
Fact: When mothers keep blood-glucose levels in range during pregnancy, the baby’s size will not be affected

Myth: Women with T1D have a harder time getting pregnant
Fact: A woman’s fertility is complex and related to many factors, T1D alone is not one of them

Myth: You’ll have to deliver early and you will most likely have a C-section
Fact: While it is common for women with T1D to be induced at 38 weeks, with good blood glucose management, you can have a full term, natural delivery

Myth: Your children will automatically have diabetes
Fact: Children of mothers with T1D only have a slightly elevated risk of developing T1D

Myth: It is not important for men with T1D to have their blood-sugar levels well controlled while trying to conceive.
Fact: Poorly controlled T1D can affect sperm count, sperm health and erectile function. It is important to be as well controlled as possible while trying to conceive.

Myth: Having a blood-sugar level in the 200‒300 mg/dL range during the first few weeks of pregnancy (before the pregnancy is confirmed) will cause the baby to have birth defects.
Fact: It is true that the first six weeks of pregnancy are critical because your baby’s organs are forming during this time. Fortunately, birth defects are quite rare for women with T1D. However, they occur more frequently than the general public, and high blood-sugar is the main reason for the increased risk. Good control before a pregnancy and during the first trimester will reduce this risk significantly.