Babies of women with diabetes more likely to be stillborn

Women with diabetes are nearly five times more likely to have a stillborn baby and three times more likely to see their baby die in the first month of life compared to women without the condition.  The alarming findings come from the world’s largest study of diabetes in pregnancy which is published today.  However, many of the risks to babies are avoidable if diabetes is well-managed and if women with diabetes received appropriate care, support and advice during pregnancy.

The report, Pregnancy in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, 2002-2003 from the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) also highlights the fact that there are also twice as many babies with major congenital malformations born to mothers with diabetes than to those without the condition. 

Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive for Diabetes UK , said "We have known about the risks to babies of women with diabetes for a long time.  Sadly it appears we are making little progress in tackling the problem.  Women with diabetes need to be made fully aware of the risks before they become pregnant.  Then those looking after them need to ensure that all the right steps are being taken to allow women to effectively reduce those risks.  It is unacceptable that women are losing their babies unnecessarily."

Currently less than one in three women is achieving adequate blood glucose control prior to pregnancy.  Only 38 per cent are achieving good enough control in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy compared to some other European countries where 75 per cent of women are reaching targets.

In order to improve the chances of them having a healthy pregnancy, Diabetes UK wants to see women with diabetes:
* Provided with preconception care and counselling that emphasises the need to keep tight control of their diabetes. 
* Encouraged to take appropriate doses of folic acid to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
* Informed of the benefits of breastfeeding and supported to follow this choice after delivery.

Diabetes UK also wants to see further research undertaken into the high level of preterm delivery and the very high rate of emergency Caesarean sections in women with diabetes highlighted by the report.

Notes

1. Diabetes UK is one of Europe ’s largest patient organisations.  Our mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and work towards a future without diabetes through care, research and campaigning. 

2. Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot convert the glucose in its blood into energy because the hormone insulin which enables this to take place is either not produced or does not work properly. Insulin is produced in the pancreas in what are known as islet cells.

4. There are currently over two million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK .  It is believed that there are also one million people who have the condition but are unaware of it.

5. The Diabetes UK Careline (0845 120 2960) offers information and support on any aspect of managing diabetes.  The line is a lo-call number and opens Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (operates a translation service). Recorded information on a number of diabetes-related topics is also available on this number 24 hours a day.

6.  There are 132,000 women aged 15-44 in the UK .  The report is based on 2536 babies born between 1 March 2002 and 28 February 2003 .

7. Diabetes affects approximately one pregnant woman in 250 in the UK .

(12/10/05)