meeting with your health care provider before becoming pregnant is very important to ensure a healthy pregnancy. your diabetes health care provider can help you determine if your diabetes is controlled well enough for you to stop your birth control method. a blood test called the glycosylated hemoglobin test (hba1c) can help your health care provider evaluate how well your diabetes has been controlled over the past 8 to 12 weeks. having other medical tests before you become pregnant can help your diabetes health care provider monitor your health and prevent the development of diabetic complications during pregnancy. some of the tests your health care provider may recommend include: a urinalysis to screen for diabetic kidney complications. cholesterol and triglyceride blood tests. eye exam to screen for diseases common in diabetics such as glaucoma cataracts and retinopathy. a pre-conception counseling appointment with your health care provider is another important step in preparing for pregnancy. pre-conception counseling helps educate women so they can be physically and emotionally prepared -- and healthy -- for pregnancy.
how can i prepare for pregnancy if i am diabetic?