Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Fall 2020 - 13

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Marina Chaparro, RDN, CDE, MPH

Pregnancy & Diabetes:
A complete Guide for Women
with Gestational, Type 2 and
Type 1 Diabetes.

Marina Chaparro,
RDN, CDE, MPH
is a nationally recognized bilingual
nutrition and diabetes expert, media
spokesperson, and member of the
Pediatric Endocrinology team at Joe
DiMaggio Children's Hospital. She is a
registered dietitian, certified diabetes
educator, and founder of Nutrichicos,
a bilingual nutrition practice
specializing in children and family
nutrition.

In her own words.
Interview with M a r i n a
Chaparro
Q: What motivated you to write this
book?
I never really imagined I would write a
book about pregnancy. Without realizing
it, this book began before my first
daughter was born. I researched this
topic; I searched non-stop for books and
resources that would help me manage my
diabetes during pregnancy. I had a hard
time finding useful resources. Which is
when I realized this was my opportunity
to give back. I had both the professional
and personal experience of living through
two very healthy pregnancies. I wanted
to empower other women and show them
that they too could have a healthy
pregnancy.
Q: What was your approach to writing
something that would help women with
gestational, type 1, and type 2 diabetes?
My approach was simple: give advice that
I would have liked to receive when I was
pregnant. This book is practical and real.
While other books on pregnancy and
diabetes offer a one-size-fits-all approach
or are highly theoretical, this book gives
unique, simple, and to the point
recommendations for each audiencebased on their specific needs. I also
included other advice from educators,
registered dietitians, and women who also
went through healthy pregnancies with
diabetes.
Q: What is the most important lesson
that you hope readers learn from this
book?
This book was created to give pregnant
women with diabetes the tools, strategies,
and motivation to keep going even when
they think they can't. Here they will find
answers to common questions, get meal
plan and snack ideas and review the latest
tech in diabetes. I want other women to
realize that they can have a healthy and

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beautiful pregnancy! It's a matter of
finding the right tools, support, and
education!
Q: What can health care providers do
to support women with diabetes who
are pregnant or thinking of
pregnancy?
Listen and be supportive. Pregnancy
and diabetes can feel daunting. Your
blood sugars no longer affect you but
also your baby. The pressure to have
"perfect blood sugars" can take an
emotional toll. Health care providers
should be a source of support, not add
to the stress by placing judgment.
Q: What is the number one myth of
diabetes and pregnancy that would
like to dispel?
There are so many! (This is precisely
why I included a section on debunking
myths and answering common Q&A).
But I would say my top three would be
1) You can't have carbs if you have
diabetes during pregnancy 2) Starting
insulin means you have failed 3)
Pregnant women with diabetes need to
have a C-section.

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Gestational, Type 2 and Type 1 Diabetes . Code DPQ2020P.
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Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Fall 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Fall 2020
