Welcome to Medivizor!

You're browsing our sample library. Feel free to continue browsing. You can also sign up for free to receive medical information specific to your situation.

Posted by on Jan 26, 2018 in Diabetes mellitus | 0 comments

In a nutshell

These guidelines presented recommendations for the management of diabetes in pregnancy. It was concluded that counseling before pregnancy, appropriate care during pregnancy, and follow-up after delivery is needed.

Some background

Diabetes in pregnancy is increasing in the United States. Most of this is due to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM; diabetes first seen in pregnancy). The remainder is are women already diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Uncontrolled diabetes in pregnancy presents a number of risks to both mother and child. These include miscarriage, structural anomalies in newborns, preeclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure in pregnancy) and increased risk of T2D and obesity later in the child’s life.

Methods & findings

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has published their 2018 guidelines on the management of diabetes during pregnancy.

All women of childbearing-age should be made aware of the importance of glycemic control before conception. Tight glycemic control lowers the risk of congenital (present at birth) anomalies. Effective contraception should be discussed, prescribed, and used, until a woman is ready to become pregnant.

Treatment of GDM should start with diet and exercise management. Some women may require drug treatment. Insulin is the safest agent, since it does not cross the placenta. Metformin (Glucophage) and glyburide (DiaBeta) are also options. However, both drugs cross the placenta. Glyburide is associated with higher risks of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose) and high birth-weight in the newborn. Metformin slightly increases the risk of prematurity. Long-term safety data is not available for either glyburide or metformin.

Insulin is also preferred for treating T1D and T2D during pregnancy. Insulin needs change during pregnancy. They usually decrease in the first trimester, rise rapidly in the second, before leveling off or decreasing slightly in the third. Thus monitoring of blood glucose levels is important to adjust insulin dose. Women with T1D have an increased risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose levels) in the first trimester. They may be less likely to notice the symptoms of this condition.

During pregnancy, monitoring blood glucose levels after fasting and after meals is recommended. For some women with pre-existing diabetes testing of blood glucose before meals is also recommended. Blood glucose must be strictly controlled during pregnancy. For this reason, referral to a dietician is important.

Women with T1D or T2D should be given low-dose aspirin, from the end of the first trimester until the child is born, to lower the risk of preeclampsia. Women with pre-existing diabetes who have diabetic retinopathy (condition affecting blood vessels of the eye) should be referred for eye exams during and after pregnancy. Women with pre-existing diabetes are at risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (a life-threatening emergency). They should thus receive education on detection and prevention.

After delivery women with GDM should be tested for ongoing diabetes. Women with pre-existing diabetes should pay attention to reduced insulin requirements after delivery to prevent hypoglycemia.

The bottom line

The ADA concluded that appropriate counseling before pregnancy, care during pregnancy, and follow-up after delivery is needed for pregnant women with diabetes.

The fine print

The recommendations in these guidelines are guides only, and may not apply to all patients. They should not replace a physician’s opinion and care.

Published By :

Diabetes Care

Date :

Jan 01, 2018

Original Title :

13. Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2018.

click here to get personalized updates