Why do doctors prefer insulin over oral medications during pregnancy?
[back to diabetes and pregnancy questions] Pregnancy and Diabetes – Oral Medications or Insulin: First generation oral agents cross the placenta and may affect the baby. They can cause the fetus to secrete too much insulin and suffer severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). Oral agents are also not strong enough to meet the rising insulin requirements of pregnancy. Insulin does not cross the placenta. Because the outcome of pregnancy is directly related to blood glucose control, insulin is the preferred diabetes regimen for pregnancy.
