Books on Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes

Note: This article is part of our library of resources for type 1 mothers. Check out more of our articles and personal stories for Type 1 Pregnancy. 

Pursuing pregnancy as a person with type 1 diabetes may be one of the most challenging things you do. The learning curve is steep, the pressure to achieve near-perfect blood sugar levels is constant, and there is no way of predicting exactly what obstacles you’ll face along the way.

Putting the phrase “a labor of love” to the test, here are a variety of books and resources to support you throughout your pregnancy journey.

Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes

Your month-to-month guide to blood sugar management

By Ginger Vieira & Jennifer C. Smith, CDCES, RD

Dedicated entirely to pregnancy with type 1 diabetes, this guide offers in-depth clinical, practical and emotional support on topics including:

• Preparing your diabetes for pregnancy
• Reaching your A1c goals before or during pregnancy
• Learning how to manage diabetes before you’re pregnant
• Creating your pregnancy support team
• Recommended technology during pregnancy
• Recommended nutrition habits during pregnancy
• Month-to-month guidance on insulin doses, nutrition, appointments, etc.
• Preparing for delivery day
• Delivery day guidance and challenges
• Postpartum: breastfeeding, depression, insulin doses
• Stories from other women
• Monthly diary entries from the author throughout her first pregnancy

Available on Amazon

Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-existing Diabetes

Healthy mom, healthy baby

By Cheryl Alkon

This encouraging and supportive guide to pregnancy addresses both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Filled with short stories from women with diabetes in every chapter, it includes a variety of real-life tips and guidance on:

• Recommendations for trying to conceive
• The early weeks of hoping you’re pregnant
• Tips on nutrition during pregnancy
• What to expect at pregnancy exams and tests
• Coping with challenges during pregnancy
• Approaching delivery day
• What to expect on delivery day
• Infertility and pregnancy loss
• Stories from other women

Available on Amazon

Pregnancy & Diabetes

A Real-Life Guide for Women with Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes

By Marina Chaparro, RDN, CDCES, MPH

Published by the American Diabetes Association, this book gives women with all types of diabetes practical and encouraging advice to manage diabetes throughout pregnancy. during the nine months of pregnancy. It covers a variety of topics, including:

• “Can I have a healthy pregnancy if I have diabetes?”
• “What can I eat?”
• “How do I keep blood sugars in target?”
• “What are the best tools to use to help me manage my diabetes?”

Available on Amazon

WRITTEN BY Ginger Vieira, POSTED 07/09/21, UPDATED 01/06/23

Ginger Vieira is an author and writer living with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. She’s authored a variety of books, including “When I Go Low” (for kids), “Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes,” and “Dealing with Diabetes Burnout.” Before joining Beyond Type 1 as digital content manager, Ginger wrote for Diabetes Mine, Healthline, T1D Exchange, Diabetes Strong and more! In her free time, she is jumping rope, scootering with her daughters, or walking with her handsome fella and their dog.