Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, affecting between 3-5 per cent of pregnancies worldwide. An increasing number of women are presenting with pre-existing Type I and Type II diabetes. Others only develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
All forms of diabetes are associated with increased risks for both mother and baby. Mothers are more at risk of developing pre-eclampsia or other obstetric complications such as induction of labour and delivery by Caesarean section.
Risks to the baby include congenital malformations, stillbirth and being born either too small or too large.
Good control of blood glucose levels before and during pregnancy may reduce these risks, which are still largely unexplained.
Further information
Publications
For further details, see: Publications