Why does pregnant women have low blood sugar levels?

Women may experience many symptoms during pregnancy that are different from usual. If any abnormalities occur, it will definitely affect the baby. Many women will have pregnancy-related diseases. These diseases did not occur when they were not pregnant and will not occur again after delivery. These are pregnancy-related diseases. Many pregnant women will have symptoms of low blood sugar. If this phenomenon is discovered, the cause must be found and preventive measures must be taken.

Many pregnant women do not pay enough attention when they experience symptoms of hypoglycemia, which can easily lead to the death of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

Hypoglycemia refers to a blood sugar level below 2.8mmol/l. This can only happen while taking certain pills or injecting insulin. Another type is congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HI), which is caused by a genetic mutation in glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), a key enzyme in amino acid metabolism.

Because metabolism speeds up after pregnancy and pancreatic blood flow increases compared to non-pregnant times, the physiological function of the pancreas is very strong. The insulin level in the blood of pregnant women is relatively high, resulting in low blood sugar (especially fasting blood sugar) in pregnant women, resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, hand tremors, and cold sweats. In addition, due to the increase of progesterone in the blood of pregnant women during early pregnancy, pregnancy reactive vomiting occurs. In addition, women generally eat less at this time, and their bodies consume a lot of energy, so it can also aggravate symptoms of hypoglycemia such as dizziness.

So why does hypoglycemia occur during pregnancy?

1. Due to the accelerated metabolism after pregnancy, the blood flow to the pancreas increases compared to the non-pregnant period, so the physiological function of the pancreas is very strong. The insulin level in the blood of pregnant women is relatively high, resulting in low blood sugar (especially fasting blood sugar) in pregnant women, resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, hand tremors and cold sweats.

2. In addition, due to the increase of progesterone in the blood of pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy, pregnancy-related vomiting may occur. In addition, women generally eat less at this time, and their bodies consume a lot of energy, which can also aggravate symptoms of hypoglycemia such as dizziness.

What to do if pregnant women have low blood sugar during pregnancy

1. Eat small, frequent meals

Because of the more obvious phenomenon of morning sickness in early pregnancy, many pregnant women will show loss of appetite, but not eating is definitely not an option, so only eating small meals frequently can ensure nutrition.

2. Regular breakfast: For breakfast, you can eat more high-protein, high-fat and high-carbohydrate foods such as milk, eggs, meat porridge, cakes, sugar water and noodles.

3. Carry snacks: If it is convenient for some mothers, they can carry some small snacks, sugar water, fruits and other convenient foods with them, so that they can eat them immediately once the above-mentioned symptoms of hypoglycemia appear, so that symptoms of hypoglycemia such as dizziness can be relieved in time.

4. Soda crackers: If the morning sickness reaction is too severe, you can eat some soda crackers to replenish energy.

Pregnant women must pay attention to breakfast. On the one hand, it can prevent hypoglycemia, and on the other hand, regular diet can maintain nutritional balance. At the same time, pregnant women should go to the hospital for regular prenatal check-ups, monitor their blood sugar, understand their physical condition, and adjust their lives according to the doctor's advice.

The above is an introduction to the causes of hypoglycemia during pregnancy. It should be noted here that although hypoglycemia during pregnancy is a common disease during pregnancy, its incidence rate is not as high as we think. Therefore, pregnant mothers do not need to become depressed because of worrying about hypoglycemia during pregnancy, because a bad mood will also affect the normal development of the fetus.