In a pregnant client with type 1 diabetes, which complication risk is increased?

In a pregnant client with type 1 diabetes, which complication risk is increased?

• A. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
• B. Placenta accreta
• C. Increased appetite
• D. Oligohydramnios in the third trimester

Answer: (A)

In pregnancy, preexisting type 1 diabetes increases the risk of hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. The reason lies in how long-standing high blood sugar and diabetic vascular changes affect the placenta and blood vessels: endothelial dysfunction and placental abnormalities lead to poorer placental perfusion, which can elevate maternal blood pressure and trigger proteinuria as pregnancy progresses. This heightened risk makes close blood pressure and fetal well-being monitoring essential. Placenta accreta tends to be driven by factors like prior uterine surgery or placenta previa, not specifically diabetes. Increased appetite is not a complication risk in this context. Oligohydramnios in the third trimester is more often linked to placental insufficiency or fetal growth issues and is less characteristic of diabetic pregnancies, where polyhydramnios due to fetal polyuria is more common.

In pregnancy, preexisting type 1 diabetes increases the risk of hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. The reason lies in how long-standing high blood sugar and diabetic vascular changes affect the placenta and blood vessels: endothelial dysfunction and placental abnormalities lead to poorer placental perfusion, which can elevate maternal blood pressure and trigger proteinuria as pregnancy progresses. This heightened risk makes close blood pressure and fetal well-being monitoring essential.

Placenta accreta tends to be driven by factors like prior uterine surgery or placenta previa, not specifically diabetes. Increased appetite is not a complication risk in this context. Oligohydramnios in the third trimester is more often linked to placental insufficiency or fetal growth issues and is less characteristic of diabetic pregnancies, where polyhydramnios due to fetal polyuria is more common.