Diabetes care and pregnancy outcomes for women with pregestational diabetes in Ireland

AIMS

Pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) is associated with adverse outcomes. We aimed to examine pregnancies affected by PGDM; report on these pregnancy outcomes and compare outcomes for patients with type 1 versus type 2 diabetes mellitus; compare our findings to published Irish and United Kingdom (UK) data and identify potential areas for improvement.

METHODS

Between 2016 and 2018 information on 679 pregnancies from 415 women with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and 244 women with type 2 diabetes was analysed. Data was collected on maternal characteristics; pregnancy preparation; glycaemic control; pregnancy related complications; foetal and maternal outcomes; unscheduled hospitalisations; congenital anomalies and perinatal deaths.

RESULTS

Only 15.9% of women were adequately prepared for pregnancy. Significant deficits were identified in availability and attendance at pre-pregnancy clinic, use of folic acid, attaining appropriate glycaemic targets and appropriate retinal screening. The majority of pregnancies (n = 567, 83.5%) resulted in a live birth but the large number of infants born large for gestational age (LGA) (n = 280, 49.4%), born prematurely <37 weeks and requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission continue to be significant issues.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective cohort study identifies multiple targets for improvements in the provision of care to women with pre-gestational DM which are likely to translate into better pregnancy outcomes.