Will really high blood sugars hurt me or my unborn child?

Diabetes: Really high blood sugars can cause diabetic ketoacidosis in the mother, which is life threatening. High blood sugars in early pregnancy can increase the risk of having a baby with a birth defect. Late in pregnancy high blood sugars cross the placenta and cause the baby to be overly large. Overly large babies sometimes require a cesarean delivery. Best to control blood sugars during pregnancy.

It can: Diabetes during pregnancy can cause fetal anomalies and difficult deliveries as well as a difficult pregnancy with risks to the mother's overall health. It's crucial that high blood sugars be controlled during pregnancy.