Maternal and fetal risks of diabetes in pregnancy.2–5
| Maternal | Fetal |
|---|---|
| Severe hypoglycaemia, particularly during the 1st trimester | Macrosomia resulting in birth trauma and delivery complications, long-term risks of insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes |
| Pre-eclampsia | Pre-term delivery |
| Progression of nephropathy and retinopathy | Neonatal hypoglycaemia |
| Diabetic ketoacidosis | Neonatal care admission |
| Caesarean section | Congenital malformations (risk 3–4% in type 1 and type 2 diabetes), 3,5 risk increases with increasing 1st trimester HbA1c |
| Thromboembolic disease | Miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death – risk increases with increasing 1st trimester HbA1c 4 |
HbA1c = glycated haemoglobin.