Management of diabetes in pregnancy

Abstract

Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with risks to the woman and to the developing fetus. Miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, preterm labour and congenital malformations in fetus are more common in women with pre-existing diabetes. Insulin requirement increases with each trimester of pregnancy in diabetic females. Treatment of gestational diabetes consists of medical nutrition therapy but insulin treatment forms the mainstay of the therapy. Monitoring glycemic control is essential in treatment of gestational diabetes. HbA1c level is helpful to differentiate between a pre-GDM and GDM. Majority of pregnant women with diabetes fail to achieve optimum glycemic control, mostly the postprandial plasma glucose with conventional insulin. In them, the best option is to administer ultra-short-acting analogs, insulin lispro or insulin aspart. These analogs improve the postprandial glucose control during pregnancy in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and are considered safe and effective.