Pump Can Help Pregnant Diabetic Women

Device Helps Keep Blood Sugar In Check

CLEVELAND -- Having a healthy baby is top priority for expectant moms everywhere, but serious medical conditions can certainly change everything.

A Cleveland woman with diabetes is taking a whole new approach to make sure she has a perfect pregnancy thanks to new technology.

Terry Frey has been a diabetic for 12 years and is taking a serious approach to controlling her condition by using the insulin pump.

It's a device that looks a lot like a pager and basically works like one, too. When your blood sugar goes out of a normal range, the pump takes over.

"It's pretty easy to get the hang of and through most of the day it's quiet unless I'm programming it," Frey said.

The pump has an insulin cartridge inside and is attached to the skin with thin tubing and a small needle.

"There's a sense of security knowing that you are in better control so you don't have to worry about low blood sugar as much or highs, and you can be so much more flexable with your day," Frey said.

Wearing the insulin pump not only makes living with diabetes easier, it's one way pregnant patients can feel confident they are taking the very best care of their unborn baby.

Babies who are exposed to uncontrolled blood sugars are at high risk for serious complications that can sometimes be fatal.

"If a baby survives, the likelihood of some type of structural defect, major structural defect such as heart defect, or spinal, or limb defect is much higher than the general population," said Dr. Stephen Emery, of the Cleveland Clinic.

Emery stressed that those defects can be avoided if a diabetic woman takes control of her condition even before conception, and the insulin pump is just one way to do that.

"The more support you have and the more people understand what you're going through, I think the easier it is to put the work into it to get better control and stay healthy," Frey said.

Some insurance companies don't cover the cost of the insulin pump unless it's prescribed by a doctor.

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