Graduation Date

12-2017

Document Type

Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Nursing

Department or Program Chair

Andrea Boyle, PhD., FNAP

First Reader

Luanne Linnard-Palmer EdD, RN

Abstract

Type 1 Diabetics have various ways of managing their diabetes that have been studied for their effectiveness. Pregnancy in the Type 1 Diabetic has been understudied. It is known that Diabetics in general have poorer pregnancy outcomes because of poor glycemic control. This coupled with the fact that the body needs 3-4 times more insulin as pregnancy comes to an end makes managing blood glucose levels challenging for diabetics (Lowdermilk, 2016, p. 689). For the Type 1 Diabetic, there are two main ways to control diabetes: multiple daily injections using at least two type of insulin and continuous subcutaneous insulin injections, also known as an insulin pump, which uses one type of insulin. Research shows that insulin pump therapy increases the amount of control over blood glucose levels safely throughout all three terms of pregnancy. It also shows that insulin pump therapy is more effective than multiple daily injections at maintaining consistent blood glucose levels and lower Ha1C levels. Improvements need to be made at the labor and delivery level of care. Currently patients are put on an intravenous insulin drip once they enter into the hospital. Limited research has been preformed during this crucial time to see the safety and effectiveness of insulin pump therapy during this stage. One study showed that there was a higher percentage of success with regards to maintaining glucose levels in both mother and infant when an insulin pump was continued. These findings suggest that more research needs to be applied to the labor and delivery process of Type 1 Diabetics using insulin pumps to establish protocols for safety for both mother and baby.

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