Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with risks to the woman and her developing fetus. Management of the condition at the primary care level includes pre-conception care, screening, diagnosis, as well as antenatal and postpartum care. A multidisciplinary approach is essential in ensuring its holistic management.
Women at risk for developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) should be screened at booking using the 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). If the test is negative, it should be repeated at 24 – 28 weeks of gestation. Meanwhile, women aged 25 years and above with no other risk factors should be screened at 24 - 28 weeks of gestation.
Diabetes during pregnancy—including type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes—can negatively affect the health of women and their babies. For women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar around the time of conception increases babies’ risk of birth defects, stillbirth, and preterm birth. Additionally, among women with any type of diabetes, high blood sugar throughout pregnancy increases women’s risk of having a cesarean delivery and increases babies’ risk of being born too large and developing obesity or type 2 diabetes in the future.
