Changing clinical practice can improve clinical outcomes for women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus

Ir Med J. 2012 May;105(5 Suppl):9-11.

Abstract

Prospective evaluation of pregnancy outcomes in women with pre-gestational diabetes over 6 years. The ATLANTIC Diabetes in Pregnancy group represents 5 antenatal centres along the Irish Atlantic seaboard, providing care for women with diabetes throughout pregnancy. In 2007 the group published a report that recognised that women were poorly prepared for pregnancy and that outcomes were sub-optimal. A change in practice occurred, offering women specialist-led, evidence-based care, both pre-pregnancy and combined antenatal/diabetes clinics during pregnancy. We now compare outcomes from 2005-2007 with 2008-2010. There was an increase in the numbers attending pre-conception care. Glycemic control before and throughout pregnancy improved. There was an overall increase in live births and decrease in perinata mortality rate. There was a decrease in large-for-gestational-age babies in mothers with Type 1 Diabetes. Elective Caesarean section rates increased while emergency section rates decreased. More women had Type 2 diabetes over time and these women were more likely to be obese. Changing the process of clinical care delivery can improve outcomes in for women with pre-gestational diabetes.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Cesarean Section / statistics & numerical data
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / therapy*
  • Diabetes, Gestational / epidemiology
  • Diabetes, Gestational / prevention & control*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant Mortality
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Ireland / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Prenatal Care / trends*
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Blood Glucose